In the Marport Home we have Sister Dorothy Westhead who is 93 years of age. Dorothy married a young man called Harold, an electrician, and they ran a bed and breakfast house in Grange Over Sands.

Each week Dorothy changed Harold’s library books so that he could enjoy his read in the evening after returning home from work. One day a sister had called and Dorothy had taken the book "The Truth shall make you Free" just to get rid of her. She just put the book away and got on with her work. A few days later Harold came home and there were no books to read as Dorothy had been too busy to change them. Harold was not happy and Dorothy was put out by this and got the book the sister had left and gave it to him saying "If you must read, read this". Harold sat down and started to read, in fact he continued to read after Dorothy had gone to bed. Early in the morning he woke her up to tell her the book was the truth about the Bible. Dorothy was not impressed at that moment.

Later on, Brother George Harland called and a study was started, ending up with both of them being baptised in 1942. Straight away they put their hearts into the ministry, getting fully in-volved working at Assemblies in the food service team, where they became friends with Dick and Laura Hindmoor among many others. Dorothy and Harold Westhead

When they decided they wanted to pioneer where the need was greater, they asked the Branch for advice and were given a list of places. Harold picked Maryport in Cumbria because Dick Hindmoor was in the next congregation at Workington, only 6 miles away. At that time there were no Witnesses in Maryport so in 1958, having sold up at Grange Over Sands, they moved with a small caravan to Maryport, having found a very pretty site on a farm.

Their first studies were with Betty Steel and Sarah Law who both came into the Truth and helped begin the congregation in Maryport. Now in the Maryport Jah-Jireh Home, Betty is in Room 15, Dorothy in Room 16, and Sarah lives in the sheltered accommodation in the grounds of the Home. The next to come along in the Truth was Muriel Brannif followed by her husband Leo, who are both now in the Workington congregation.

Dorothy and Harold would have liked to become missionaries but being in their middle 40’s were considered too old for Gilead. However in 1959, having been made Special Pioneers, they were asked to go to Northern Ireland to serve where the work was very hard. They accepted the assignment with joy and began a happy time as they got to know the brothers and enjoyed working with them. During this time they were able to help many to come to know Jehovah.

Sadly after many years of service there, Harold died as a result of a car accident. Dorothy became ill and after being taken to hospital, she was told that she was no longer in a position to look after herself. She had heard from a sister in a letter that there was a Jah-Jireh Home in Maryport, run by the Hindmoor family. The hospital contacted the Home to ask if there was any chance of a room. It so happened that the Home was just finishing an extension and a room was available. Dorothy was delighted and as soon as she could arrange things in Ireland and some loving brothers to give her transport, "she came home", as Dorothy says.

Dorothy Westhead Dorothy came into the Home in June 2002 and loves being able to enjoy meetings and association with brothers and sisters that she had known and helped to come into the Truth in the 1950's. She often says that in the resurrection Harold will be very happy to know that she was able to enjoy living with the brothers in a congregation that they helped to start.

Completion of Extension at Merthyr

We are pleased to be able to let you know that the extension at our Merthyr Home is now complete. Brothers and Sisters are already moving in, as we write the newsletter, and we anticipate the Home being full before the end of December. We would like to say a very big thank you to all those who have helped through prayers, efforts and contributions.

There is a passageway from the dining room of the Home straight into the Kingdom Hall. Our residents are able to go from physical food to spiritual without even having to put a coat on - a real blessing especially during the winter months.

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