Christian Aid Thanks Life-Long Supporter

 Tuesday February 23

Anne, 90, was inspired by experiences in post-war Germany

^{Anne Booth-Clibborn and Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland}

Christian Aid Scotland has thanked a lifelong supporter for seventy years of dedicated voluntary work for the charity.

The story of how Anne Booth-Clibborn – who recently turned ninety – became involved in the charity was used last year in a UK-wide legacy campaign leaflet. Head of Christian Aid Scotland, Kathy Galloway, recently visited Anne to present her with a framed memento of the leaflet and to recognise her contribution.

Anne's dedication to the organisation was inspired by her experiences in post-war Europe while still a teenager. She was employed as a driver by the British army and, aged just 19, was sent to Germany to help with reconstruction and witnessed first-hand the desperate situation in the country.

Anne, who now lives in Edinburgh, tells of one moment that inspired her: “As I walked along the barbed wire fence that separated me from the Germans, I heard a woman's voice. She reached through the wire and handed me a copy of the New Testament in German. The next day, I gave her a copy of my own English Bible. It was a vision of the worldwide church that has inspired me ever since”.

The post-war refugee crisis was one of the catalysts which would unite the Churches across Britain into action and as a result Christian Aid, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, was formed. Asked how she feels about the current refugee crisis, Anne says: “The situation is now almost unbearable, it breaks your heart. It makes you angry and stirs up emotion”.

On her return to the UK in 1947 Anne went to St Andrews University -  her father was a theological professor there - and became deeply involved in the Student Christian Movement.

In 1956, Anne became a Church of Scotland missionary and travelled to Nairobi in Kenya. Eighteen months later she met and married Stanley Booth-Clibborn, who later became the Bishop of Manchester, and they were married.

The then Head of Christian Aid, Janet Lacey, who later became a friend of Anne’s, called on people to support the churches in Kenya as the country began its journey to independence. After independence Anne’s husband worked for the Christian Council of Kenya and for 11 years they were supported by Christian Aid.

After their time in Kenya they returned to the UK with their four children. Anne became Secretary of the Christian Aid group in Cambridge and later in the 1970s she joined the board of Christian Aid and the Africa Committee. She recalls the huge responsibility she felt being sent to apartheid South Africa on a fact finding mission. She was also asked to be a monitor in the elections being held in Kenya and Namibia.

After visiting South Africa in the mid-eighties, she was one of many Christian Aid supporters who pressed ministers in the Thatcher government to impose sanctions against the country. Anne is very supportive of Christian Aid's advocacy work. “I have been delighted with Christian Aid's campaigning work. Justice issues are fundamental to how we run our world and there’s no point tinkering with sticking plasters if we're not going to get to the root of some of these problems.”

Asked how she feels being involved with Christian Aid for nearly seventy years and to be part of the anniversary celebrations, Anne replies, “ I am proud that I have been with Christian Aid since its birth and it has been a strong thread throughout my life. Many of the people who I have met through Christian Aid have been extraordinary.”
 
Head of Christian Aid Scotland, Kathy Galloway, said: “Anne is an absolute inspiration to all of us working for Christian Aid in Scotland. Her commitment to the cause of refugees and displaced people is as strong as ever."

Post Tags: christian aid

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