Millennium show for Norfolk-born TV star

Simon Thomas with one of his young fans.

Norfolk-born Blue Peter TV presenter Simon Thomas has been in Israel this autumn recording for the Christmas and Millennium editions.
It's a long way from his beloved Norfolk but all part of his exciting new life as presenter on one of TV's most enduring children's programmes.
Simon loves the windswept Norfolk beaches, with a special fondness for Cromer.
Although the family moved to Grimston, near King's Lynn, when he was three, he was taken every summer to Cromer where his father was leader of the Scripture Union Beach Mission. The wheel has turned full circle and for the past eight years Simon himself has led the mission.

He feels sure that this was invaluable experience for the Blue Peter job because, as well as developing the skill of talking to young people at their level, it proved to him and to others that he really does enjoy working with children.
Simon's father is now a vicar in Beccles and Simon likes to come home from London to spend time with the family or to go to their holiday cottage in Cromer. He still supports Norwich City, going to their matches whenever he can.

A graduate, Simon's other experience ranges from strawberry planting in Geldeston to running a marathon for the Oasis Trust which helps the homeless here and abroad with education and care. He is involved with a church in London and is currently helping to lead an Alpha course for those wanting to find out more about the Christian faith.
This young man with his sunny personality and roots deep in family, God and Norfolk will surely be a good role model for young people in the new Millennium. Anne Forbes

Choir are set to sing in the new century

A 100-voice choir singing gospel music will help to welcome in the new Millennium in Norwich as part of the city council's plans for Norwich City of Light. The choir, based on The Family Life Centre's Choir plus singers from other Norwich churches, will present two programmes of music.

Supported by a 20-piece band the choir will be at the City Hall steps at 7pm. This will be a family time and the programme including popular Gospel Music will have a celebratory party atmosphere.
Later from 11.15pm the choir will sing again from the city hall steps just before the laser and light show.

Demand growing after decade of help

By John Breeze

A Norwich counselling centre has just marked ten years of providing a free service to help clients tackle everything from bereavement and depression to family problems, abuse and stress. But the demand for its services is still so great that it urgently needs more counsellors.
The Centre for Christian Care and Counselling is based next to Oak Grove Chapel on Catton Grove Road, Norwich and over the past decade has been able to help around 500 people.
"It all came about as the result of a vision I had one morning about a Christian counselling centre," said director Rob Hoffman.
"That was way back in the late '80s and to cut a very long story short, the counselling centre began. It started in 1990, but from the very beginning we had the concept that it should be ecumenical and should serve the community. Although run by Christians it shouldn't be just for Christians. It was to show God's love in the unconditional acceptance of the counselling environment."

After some years, when the service expanded, the centre moved to its present building on Catton Grove Road. Since then similar centres have also been set up in Lowestoft, Wymondham and Dereham.
"The centre grew with more clients and counsellors and it soon became clear to us that lots of the issues being dealt with were the result of experiences from youth or childhood," said Rob. "We felt that rather than untangling these problems in adult life it would be better to deal with them in childhood. So we decided to open a Children, Young People and Family Unit. With the help of the Social Services we developed a child protection policy and began operating the service in 1998."
Additional satellite services such as befrienders, self-help groups and parenting classes are being set up and the centre is looking for better accommodation and for more counsellors. For information about the centre or counselling ring 01603 427777.
A thanksgiving service to mark the tenth anniversary of the centre is being held on Thursday January 13 at 7.30pm, at Oak Grove Chapel.

People - When disease struck Lynda and her friends turned to God

Lynda Mills working on one of her stencils.

Prayer power in cancer fight

When cancer attacked her spine, Lynda Mills was told she might spend the rest of her life wired to a metal helmet. Then friends all over the world started praying with surprising results. Earlier this year, Lynda shared her story at a women's outreach group run by Mulbarton church.
First impressions tell you that Norfolk designer, Lynda Mills' life is full of dimension and colour - just like her prize-winning stencils. With a close-knit family, her own company, annual business trips to America and the publication of her long-awaited first book, she appears every inch a "superwoman".
But six years ago, cancer ravaged her vertebrae, causing pain and loss of feeling and movement. The disease that had struck a few years earlier threatened to rob her of all vitality. Doctors predicted the end of a normal life but Lynda and her family are Christians who believe in the power of prayer. A world-wide prayer vigil was mounted and soon one pioneering surgeon tackled a long and complex operation to rebuild Lynda's vertebrae with bone from her hip.

Today, she still bears the scars of an operation that meant breaking her collar bone but Lynda looks back with triumph. "God was really good, I didn't even need to take a single painkiller after the operation."
Her company, Lynda Mills Designs produces stencils including animals, flowers, fruit and rural scenes which aim to recapture a tiny flourish of God's creativity. "We can bring beauty into our surroundings to create peace and harmony and we can share that creativity, if only in our homes or amongst friends," says Lynda who runs regular workshops.
Commissioned designs for homes, offices and hotels are popular. Lynda is currently sketching one of the biggest wisteria in the country, as a preliminary to the final design. Other stencil work combines with simple hand painting to produce eye-catching murals.
Her book, Trompe L'Oeil using Stencils, published by Search Publications (£7.95), is a step-by-step guide to the space, contrast and shadowing that can be achieved with this revolutionary method.
For more information telephone: 01328 856363.

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