THE Friends of St Thomas a Becket Church held their popular mid-summer concert on June 23. The wonderful evening of music featured the Ethelbert Consort, a local choral ensemble led by Musical Director Jon Weller. Their exceptional singing created a unique and diverse recital featuring pieces from Mozart to Lennon & McCartney, with the added delight of guest soloist Anna Shave who played the flute.

After the concert the newly completed composting toilet, which has been built in the grounds of the 13th church, was blessed by the Rev Ben Griffith at a short ceremony before opening for business. The Rev Ben Griffith conceded this was a first in his ministry as he read from the General Thanksgiving, suitably adapted for the occasion, before the formality of tearing a ribbon of toilet paper across the door.

Tribute was paid to the skill and workmanship of those involved in the building of the toilet, the cost of which was covered by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund with the balance made up by the Friends of St Thomas a Becket.

Churchwarden Peter Kelly said that a time capsule containing contemporary artifacts of life had been buried in the foundations of the newly installed toilet. The time capsule includes a letter addressed to 'whom it may concern' detailing a little about the lives and times of the people of Huntington in 2018.

The audience was then invited to attend a party in the grounds of the church where everyone was treated to free wine and delicious canapés all provided by the people of Huntington.