An insight into the past year of local Reverend Andrew Dotchin.

In Greek mythology the god Janus, after whom we name the month January, has two faces. One looks backwards to the past and the other looks forwards to the future.  As the year turns it is often helpful to be a little like Janus and do the same.

It’s now just over four years since we moved to Felixstowe, I’ve been trying to live here since I was 18! I am glad that my hopes for life in Felixstowe have been proven correct.

Firstly, and above all else, Felixstowe is a generous place. Throughout the last year I have seen people dip their hands into their pockets to help others. Some of the causes that are helped are local and some far away but all of them are well supported by people of good heart.  

Look at a few of the events that have enriched our community and at the same time raised funds for others. The Rotary fun run, The Carnival, The Mayor’s Charity Events, The Christmas Day Dip, and The Rudolph Run and many more. The last raised nearly £8000 just by itself.  

And all this doesn’t even cover the events organised by individuals. I remember last January being slightly more chilly after the Rainbow Group at Level Two shaved my beard, my moustache, and my head to raise to help Langer Primary children go on outings. And where would so many of the hard-pressed of our town be without the support of the pop-up shops run by the BASIC Life Charity and their volunteers, the meals provided by the Salvation Army, and the friendship offered through Hope Trust and the Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance?

Felixstowe is also, as befits a maritime town, a welcoming place.  According to the census we are one of the most ethnically diverse communities in Suffolk.  Look at the business along our High Streets and see how many are run by hard working people who were not born here yet have made Felixstowe their home. Due to the pressures of the economy, seafarers do not have as much shore time as previously but, for the vast majority, a friendly welcome is offered.  On Easter Day it was a pleasure to have six Filipino seafarers join us towards the end of the service, stay with us for fellowship, and each leave with a woollen cap knitted by members of the Mothers’ Union. The only glitch was that I stumbled over my words trying to pronounce a blessing in Tagalog!

Talking about the Port. It is easy to forget that it handles over 40% of national imports and nearly 10% of Suffolk is in work because of the Port. So, it was a great fillip for the Port and our town to be chosen as the place where MSC Isabella, the newest of the largest container ships in the MSC fleet, was blessed and named here.

In general Felixstowe is also a happy community. People are determined to look on the bright side of life. Perhaps it’s the sea air, the well-cared for gardens, the Promenade which caters for all sorts and types of people along its length that does this. But even at the end of the hardest days, and 2019 brought too many of them, I often breathe out a happy sigh and in my prayers thank God for being allowed to work and serve here.  

This zeitgeist spreads to others as well.  Here are a few of them. The Felixstowe Finds beach pebble group, Felixstowe Litter-Pickers, Felixstowe Community Garden, all the establishments such as Cuppa and Crafty Coffee who have opened their doors for events like ‘Meet Up Mondays’ and Timebank. Add to this the latest initiative from Darren Aitchison and others to provide ‘Hanging Coffee’ for those who are feeling the pinch. These newer groups follow the well-trodden steps of many other voluntary organisations across our community.

All is looking rosy for 2020 then? Yes, but we need to be on the guard against the cynicism that often surrounds charitable works.  This too easily raises its head on the many Social Media platforms that are available today. As with any other ‘news’ source it’s not the medium that can be the challenge but the content. Too easily, like Janus, we can turn our intention of valuing the past so that we can shape the future, a single-mindedness, into a carping and criticism of the hard work of others and become a little bit two-faced.  We seem to be becoming a nation that rewards hard work for others with cries of ‘why didn’t you help me as well?’ Too often this has become the norm for our public and political life as well.

In the Church of England, which is well-versed at having arguments, we struggle with how we are to have ‘Good Disagreement’ – which sounds like an oxymoron! How do we continue to live and work alongside those who have different views to ourselves without descending into the demonising of each other? We have not yet got to the answer, though we are hoping to have some idea of a good way forward later this year. The Archbishop has asked two things of us. The first is simply that we choose to be kind in all our relationships but especially with those with whom we disagree. It costs nothing and will enable deeper conversations. The second is that we all sign up to the Church of England digital charter. It is not onerous and simply asks that we are courteous to each other.  

That reminds me of another thing Felixstowe is good at, being courteous. In a previous life it was all about greeting people in the street, gentlemen doffing hats, and helping old ladies across the street. In a cyber age it takes a little more effort, but costs just as little and will bring great reward.  

In 2020 let’s make Felixstowe a generous and welcoming, happy and courteous community that will bring a smile to the face of all who live here and all who visit.

Photo captions

Blessing of a Rib – Fred Olsen donates their 5th Lifeboat to RNLI.