Bamenda is the Provincial capital of North West Cameroon in West Africa. In 1970 the Bamenda Diocese was created and Paul Verdzekov appointed as the first bishop.

In 1974 Bishop Derek Worlock of Portsmouth created a link between the two dioceses. Over nearly 30 years 10 Portsmouth priests and many lay people have worked in Bamenda. More than £800,000 from Portsmouth has been spent on projects there.

Bishops, priests and lay people continue to visit in both directions. People across Portsmouth Diocese create friendships and raise funds for projects.

Our spiritual link in prayer and thanksgiving remains a living and priceless gift.

Bamenda Foreward
When Dr John Hughes and I visited Bamenda in April I experienced a curious, but very moving example of life imitating art imitating life. In the waiting room at the medical facility at Njindom I encountered two small boys patiently waiting for treatment. The smaller of the boys was wearing heavy iron callipers on both legs. He told me he had come to have them adjusted as he had grown since his last visit.

I asked his older brother if they had come far. "The walk from our village takes about two and a half hours", he said in precise English. "You mean your little brother walks all that way in callipers!" I asked. "No, not all the way", replied the bigger boy. "When he gets tired I carry him". My mind instantly flashed back to the now legendary scene in the 1938 film about Fr Flanagan's Boys' Town where Spencer Tracy opens the door late one wet winter night to find two boys on the doorstep, a bigger one carrying a smaller one.

Well, of course, you know the story which has immortalised Mickey Rooney's famous line: "He ain't heavy, Fadder, he's my brother". The scene in the film records a true event. I now have no difficulty in believing it.

The facility at Njindom is one of the success stories in which you have played an important part through the generosity of your response to our Bamenda appeals. Since we last visited two years ago much progress has been made. Two large new wings have been built and roofed and were ready for the 'second fix' when we visited.

By now, the community will have a great new outpatients and maternity wing about three times the size of their former accommodation. This could not have been achieved without your generous giving, and the villagers made sure to ask us to convey their thanks and prayers to the people of Portsmouth Diocese with whom they feel a close bond.

Sadly in January, we bid farewell to Archbishop Paul who, at the age of seventy-five is due to retire not too far away from the people he loves and has served as bishop and archbishop for over thirty years. Archbishop Paul is a man of great integrity, learning and love of the Church which he combines with a passion for justice and human rights.

Under his wise guidance and gentle encouragement we have had the privilege of helping him realise some of his pastoral priorities for his diocese. He visited us briefly in June to say farewell and Bishop Crispian hopes to be in Bamenda in January when he hands over his charge to Bishop Esau, his successor.

Also retiring is Fr Erwin Hain the Dutch Mill Hill priest who has had such a close bond with us over the thirty odd years of the link and who has always ensured every penny of our contribution was spent wisely and in the way that we had agreed. His good humour, wise advice and invaluable knowledge will be sorely missed.

Luckily we are confident that his successor, Fr William Neba, will continue Fr Erwin's good work. Fr William has worked very closely with Fr Hain and with us for a number of years and is well placed to see the link continue and grow.

The work goes on and the need is growing, so please continue to support the Bamenda link with your prayers and your generous giving to the annual Bamenda Sunday collection. We are always happy to advise any parish that would like to take on and fund a particular project. Please get in touch if your parish would like to help in this or any other way.

Many thanks,
(Mgr) Jeremy Garratt, Bamenda Committee.