Tanni was christened Carys Davina Grey but when her sister saw her for the first time she referred to her as ‘tiny’, pronouncing it ‘tanni’- the nickname stayed. She was born with spina bifida. (Spina bifida is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not develop properly in the womb - causing a gap in the spine.) This did not stop her from enjoying and competing in sports. As a young athlete she competed in wheelchair basketball. Tanni became an outstanding GB Paralympic champion in wheelchair racing, winning 11 gold medals over 100-800 metres between 1992-2004, plus 4 silver and 1 bronze medals. She broke/held over 30 world records and won the London Marathon 6 times between 1992-2002. She retired from competing on 27th February 2007 Tanni continues to be an inspiration for disabled athletes. Her contribution to inclusivity and equal rights for the disabled resulted in her becoming The Right Honourable The Baroness Grey-Thompson in the 2012 New Year’s honours list. Her autobiography Seize the Day was published in 2001. Sources Wikipedia Women in Sport by Rachel Ignotofsky

In 1908 Florence Madeline (Madge) Caves became Great Britain’s first female Olympic figure skater . In those days, during the winter, men and women enjoyed figure skating but women were not allowed to compete in competitions- they thought it would cause too much stress on a woman’s weak body. Madge was such an amazing skater that she gained notoriety and respect from the skating community to become an Olympic champion gold medalist. Men only took part in competitions before Madge competed - officials checked the rules to try to stop her but found there was no explicit rules to exclude women. She became a regular at the Prince’s Skating Club in Knightsbridge. In 1899 Madge met Edgar Syers (18 years her senior). Together they competed in pairs competitions and in 1900 they came second in one of the first pairs events staged in Berlin. Also in 1900 they got married. Edgar became her coach and started to teach her the more fluid International style. In 1902 she entered to compete in the Championships in in London which was regarded as an all male event. They reluctantly allowed her to compete and she came second. The winner Ulrich Salchow was so impressed by her performance that he offered her his gold medal. In 1903 the ISU Congress voted 6 to 3 in barring women from the championship!! In 1905 the ISU Congress established a separate ladies’ event- held at a different date and venue from the men’s event. Madge won the first two events. The Summer Olympics in London in 1908 saw Madge compete as an individual and in the pairs event with her husband Edgar. Madge won the gold; together they won bronze. Madge retired after the Olympics due to fading health. She died of heart failure on 9th September 1917 The Syers produced 2 books The Book of Winter Sports (1908) The Art of Skating (1913) Her bravery and excellence helped future women show their talents to the world. Besides being a proficient figure skater she was a gifted swimmer and equestrienne. Sources used Wikipedia and *Women in Sport * by Rachel Ignofsky

Dame Katherine Granger began rowing in 1993 while attending university in Edinburgh. She competed in both the double and quadruple skulls, plus the coxless pairs. In 2000, at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, medals were awarded to females for the first time in rowing- she won a silver in the quadruple skulls event. For a number of Olympics she gained medals but it was not until 2012 that she won gold in the double sculls with her partner Anna Watkins. I n 2012 she was the first female to win medals at 4 consecutive Olympic games. In 2016, in Rio, she won a further silver medal with Victoria Thornley after having a break of 2 years from the sport! In the 2017 New Years Honours list Katherine was awarded a DCM (Dame Commander of the British Empire) for services to sport and charity.

Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur on the 7th February 2005 broke the world record for a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe with a time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. The very next day she became a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) and granted the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Commander, Royal Naval Reserve on the same day Born in 1976 she went on a yacht for the first time aged just 4. Aged 8 she began saving up for a boat of her own! Aged 18 she sailed solo around Great Britain . Aged 20 she raced across the Atlantic. Aged 29 she sailed solo no-stop around the world in her trimaran B&Q/Castorama. (Read her Professional Sailing Career and Sailing Records)- it is incredible what she achieved. Ellen retired in 2009 having set up many sailing records along the way. In 2003 she set up the Ellen MacArthur Trust (now the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust) to help 8-24 year olds to regain confidence while recovering from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illnesses. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which promotes the use on the circular economy, was launched in 2010. It does this by developing and promoting the concept of recycling rubbish to make new products by working with business, policy makers and academics. This world, that I thought as a child was the biggest, most adventurous place you could image, is not that big, and there’s an awful lot of us on it. Ellen MacArthur Sources used Wikipedia Women of Sport by Rachel Ignotofsky

Jonathan was a North American revivalist preacher, philosopher and Congregationalist theologian. he is regarded as one the USA’s most important and original philosophical theologians. He played a critical role in shaping the First Great Awakening (1735-7), (1740-4). His theological work gave rise to a distinct school of theology known as the New England theology. Jonathan was the fifth of 11 children - the other 10 were all girls. His father, Timothy, was a pastor at East Windsor, Connecticut. He grew up in an atmosphere of Puritan piety, affection and learning. Following rigorous home schooling he entered Yale College in New Haven aged 13. He was converted at the age of 17 as he read 1 Timothy 1 v17 All honour and glory to God for ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies;he alone is God. Following this he had a delightful conviction of divine sovereignty to a new sense of God’s glory revealed in Scripture and in nature. He graduated in 1720 from Yale and stayed a further 2 years to study Divinity. Briefly he was a pastor in New York (1722-3) and received a MA degree. !724-6 he was a tutor at Yale. In 1727 he became his grandfather’s colleague at Northampton and married Sarah Pierrepont (they had 11 children). On his grandfather’s death in 1729 he became the sole occupant of the pulpit. He stayed at Northampton until his dismissal concerning a dispute who should take Holy Communion. He was there for over 20 years. On July 1st 1750 he preached his dignified and restrained ’ Farewell- sermon’. This was followed by 2 books explaining his position. On his termination at Northampton he began missionary work in Stockbridge, Massachusetts working with Indians. Although hampered by language difficulties, illness , Indian wars and conflicts with personal enemies he discharged his pastoral duties. This is where he wrote his most famous book The Freedom of the Will (1754). In 1757 he was invited to be president of the College of New Jersey-now Princeton University. He had hardly assumed duties when he contracted smallpox and died aged 55. (He was inoculated against smallpox and 5 weeks later caught the disease from the vaccine.) So ended the life of the man who was arguably USA’s greatest theologian. His writings, expounding and defending the evangelical and Reformed faith are of lasting value to the Christian church. American historian , Perry Miller said that Jonathan is the * greatest philosopher-theologian yet to grace the American scene.* His entire corpus of Jonathan’s works are available on line. Sarah Edwards His wife raised their 11 children largely by herself. Jonathan focused on sermons and books. She was a hands-on parent who raised the children and ran the household, providing an agreeable and pleasant life for the family. Sources Gold from Dark Mines Irene Howat ch5 p109-p140 wikipedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia Great Leaders of the Christian Church Woodbridge

Selina Shirley was born into a ‘distinguished’ dysfunctional family. Troubles had followed the Shirley family for generations. her grandfather, Sir Robert had died in the Tower of London. Her father, a second Robert, was born shortly before his father was imprisoned. In 1671, aged 20, he married Elizabeth Washington. They had at least 11 children in 22 years of marriage. Elizabeth died in 1693 leaving 9 motherless children. Robert quarreled with all his children. In 1699 he married again and had 6 more children who survived childhood. The first girl in this second marriage, Elizabeth, had Queen Anne as her godmother. Selina was born in 1707. Aged 10 she learned her father had been left a derisory £20 in her grandfather’s will (others in the family had £5,000). In 1728, aged 20, she married Theophilus Hastings, 9th Earl of Huntingdon, who was 12 years older than Selina. In the first 10 years of their 18 years of happy married life they had 7 children, 6 survived. Theophilus died in 1746. On 21st April 1730 she one of the 21 aristocratic women who supported Thomas Coran in establishing the Founding Hospital. In 1739 she joined the first Methodist society in Fetters Lane, London. In July she was converted. From her bed, she lifted up her heart to the Saviour with this important prayer and immediately all her distress and fears were removed, and she was filled with peace and joy believing. Gold from Dark Mines p98. From 1746 she became a financial supporter for the Methodist movement led by John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. George became her chaplain. She was responsible for founding 64 chapels and contributed to the funding of others. She also founded Trevecca ministers’ college near Talgarth in Mid Wales ( since 1972 the United Reformed Church). She played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales. Selina was a woman who allegedly suffered from poor health. She visited Bath to ‘take the waters’ on a number of occasions. After her conversion in 1739 her health improved dramatically, Sources Gold from Dark Mines by Irene Howat ch2 pages 77-108 Wikipedia

Augustine of Hippo is one of the 4 Doctors of the church. He was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived He was born in Numidi (now Algeria) in 354. His parents were Saint Monica and Patricius, a pagan. His father, on his death bed became a Christian and died in 373 when Augustine was just 19. Augustine was rebellious and his mother prayed for 17 years before he became converted. He was educated in Cathage, then went to Rome, followed by moving to Milan where he taught rhetoric. For 10 years he was interested in Manichaeism (see notes). In Milan he listened to the sermons of Saint Ambrose. To his mother’s joy he was converted and baptised. He was 33. He and Saint Ambrose probably composed the * Te Deum.* The year was 387 when Saint Monica died. She had spent many years praying for her son before he was converted. In her last two years she saw her prayers wonderfully answered. Saint Monica died in Ostia as she and her son gazed at the sea and discoursed about the joys of the blessed. He returned to Africa. H e spent several years in communal living, teaching, meditating, fasting and praying. He ended up becoming a priest and went to Hippo as an assistant to bishop Valerius and established a monastic community. On the bishop’s death he became bishop - Augustine of Hippo. He began to write. Many of his books, all in Latin, are still available to read. Confessions and City of God are his most famous books. Confessions looks at his childhood and conversion. (See list of books) He died in 430 ,aged 76, when his city was being besieged by Vandals who had invaded the Roman Empire. Saint Augustine is considered by many to be the greatest teacher of Christian Truth after Saint Paul - writer of the epistles in the New Testament. I have included a list of his books his ideas, plus definitions for Manichaeism and Filique Gold from Dark Mines by Irene Howart ch1 pages 7-44 Sources Wikipedia and The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

A vocabulary and poetry aid about Fog. Illustrations by David Woodroffe.

Just 6 sheets I created to encourage children to talk about their pets

The sales have started. I have created a phrase/ vocabulary sheet and a poetry aid about the New Year Sales.

Children in year 6 are often asked to write something for their final assembly. I have created two sheets. Sheet one should give them ideas about what to write. Sheet 2 may read Poetry Aid but the vast vocabulary can also be used to help them write their memory sheet. Hope these two sheets will inspire the children to write either a piece of prose or to have a go at writing a poem.

Black Friday is the last Friday in November. This when firms sell some of their products at a really crazy price. The children might like to pretend that they can buy ALL l their Christmas presents they have dreamed of having. OR they might like to believe their pocket money will be sufficient to buy ALL the presents they want to buy to give to their parents. I have created a list of phrases and a vocabulary to create their dream.

St. Mungo is the patron saint of Glasgow. His proper name is Saint Kentigern but he is is better known by his nickname. Saint Serf, who became his foster father, is responsible for the name of Mungo. Mungo means ‘my dear one’. His mother was a princess: his father became a king!

Just put this material together to help children write /discuss what happened in Thailand in the last fortnight. Lets hope the rescue is a complete success.

Ferdinand Magellan is recognised as being the first person to lead a sea voyage around the world. He started with 5 ships but only ‘Victoria’ returned to Spain. Ferdinand died during the attack on the Mactan island so he personally never completed the voyage - see notes.

Henrietta Mears had a significant impact on evangelical Christianity in the 20th century. She was one of the founders of the National Sunday school Association. .Within two years Sunday school attendance at Hollywood ‘Pres’ was averaging 4,200. She founded a publishing company and wrote and published a number of books- see list She had profound impact on the ministries of Billy Graham and Richard C. Halverson. She also believed by many theologians to have directly shaped Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws, which defined modern evangelism in the 20th century. She was a gifted educator and was known as ‘Teacher’ by those in her programme. Wikipedia have done an excellent biography. I have also included Richard C. Halverson 's visit to Miss Henrietta Mears cabin.

Bill Bright was an American evangelist. With his wife, Vonette, he set out to help bring students to Christ. Bill and his male colleagues concentrated on the male students: Vonette concentrated on the female intake. In 1951 at the University of California , Los Angeles he founded Campus Crusade for Christ as a ministry for university students. He worked with the great American evangelist Billy Graham. Campus Crusade expanded and in 2011 had 25,000 missionaries in 191 countries… He was influenced by Henrietta Mears who probably helped in the forming of Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws. He wrote over 100 books and booklets. His articles and pamphlets have been translated into many languages and distributed in their millions! I have included Wikipedia’s biography of Bill Bright plus the Four Spiritual Laws.

Adoniram Judson Gordon He is known as the father of Baptist Missionaries. He was a scholar, preacher , author, Bible teacher and translator who left us with a rich heritage of faith and good works in the books he wrote and the Bible college he founded. He spent 34 years in Burma as a missionary and translated the whole of the Bible into the Burmese language. Initially he was not successful in bringing converts to the Christian faith -it took six long years to get his first convert. Shortly after his death, 34 years plus later, a government survey recored 210,000 Christians in Burma. Aye, a mighty man of faith, prayer, purpose, patience and perseverance for the son of God and for souls, was Adoniram Judson. From Profiles of Evangelism by Fred Barlow I have included the profile written by Fred Barlow, and the Legacy of his work from Wikipedia. The name missing from the blank space is Eames

Amy Carmichael was a girl from Belfast. She , with her two brothers, helped an elderly lady carry a heavy bundle. Aged 18 she, not her brothers, had a revelation, similar to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. ‘That day she talked to God, and settled once and for all the pattern of her future life.’ *They found the Secret *by V. Raymond Edman. She was the first missionary appointed under the Keswick .convention. She went initially to Japan, then Ceylon and then spent 55 consecutive years in Southern India. In Japan she learnt the importance of simple dress sense and appearance. In India she always dressed in saris never in western clothing. She felt the calling to save both girls and boys being used in the temples.The children were being sold to ‘marry’ the Brahmin temple priest. She first took girls then boys. The refuge was called DOHNAVUR. With other Indian women she created a hostel and hospital for children. Through her tireless effort laws were put in place to protect the children After an accident, when she broke her leg and ankle, she was confined to bed as an invalid for 20 years. She then began to write - 37 books in total Thing as they are, Meal in a barrel, Gold Cord, Though the Mountains Shake - to name just four. Amy also wrote a great deal of Christian poetry. In 2017 , 150 years after her birth, Roger Carswell, a member of the Association of Evangelists, wrote the article I have photocopied.

Eva was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Her parents were both majors in the Salvation Army. Evangeline Evelyn Burrows was named after the daughter of William Booth , the founder of the Salvation Army. When she was born her father lifted her up and declared * I dedicate this child to the glory of God and the salvation of the world.* General Eva was the second woman to lead the international Salvation Army. She carried the banner back to Eastern Europe after the fall of Communism. During her 7 year tenure she rekindled the 150 year old organisation original goal of evangelising. insisting We don’t use social services as a bait to fish for converts. She was well known for her quotes. The salvation Army seeks by god’s grace to save people from the mess they make of their lives. Wikipedia.org have created a very good resume of her life. This I have included plus a couple of her quotes.