War Cry 11 May 2024

WAR CRY

Ncuti Gat wa is the new face in the Tardis

Providing help to be banked on

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.

What is the War Cry?

The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.

‘IN this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,’ wrote one of the United States’ Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, in 1789. Today, the certainties of death and taxation seem as sure as they ever were. For most employed people, tax is deducted before their pay reaches their bank accounts, while accountants specialise in helping others make sure their tax affairs are all in order.

But when it comes to that other certainty, most people apparently have not prepared for it – potentially leaving an administrative mess for their grieving relatives.

Matthew Hutton would like to change that. The Church of England minister and retired solicitor has written a book, Your Last Gift, which guides readers in how to make sure their paperwork is all in order when they die.

In an interview in this week’s War Cry he explains: ‘Anybody who has been confronted by the death of someone close to them will know that, quite apart from dealing with the grief and devastation, you’re totally blown away by all the stuff you have to deal with. So the idea is to make it easier in advance.’

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major

Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow

Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku

Staff Writer: Emily Bright

Staff Writer: Claire Brine

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While it may seem macabre to spend time preparing for our own death, the inevitability that it will happen one day means that making sure our affairs are in order is a great gift to those we leave behind – even though, as Matthew accepts, dying isn’t something that people often talk about.

‘In our society in the UK,’ he says, ‘there is uncertainty about death.’

Christian teaching, though, is very certain about what happens when we die. Followers of Jesus believe that death is not the end but instead ushers in an eternity with God where there is no more sadness, crying or pain.

If we really want to make sure that we have prepared for the time when we die, accepting God’s invitation to discover his love is something we will never regret.

INFO INFO

What’s up Doc?

The Time Lord is facing the impossible in BBC1 series

TV preview by Claire Brine

WHOVIANS, get ready. There’s a new Time Lord in town. And, as expected, he’s having to deal with troublesome monsters, evil villains and bizarre aliens in the new series of Doctor Who, which will be launched on BBC1 on Saturday (11 May).

After making his first outing in the Christmas special last year, Ncuti Gatwa can’t wait for fans to see what’s in store for the 15th Doctor and his companion, Ruby (Millie Gibson). In the upcoming series, viewers will see the pair racing through time and space, taking in the elegant Regency era of the 19th century, and also rockin’ up to the 1960s, where they meet the Beatles.

Speaking to Radio Times, showrunner Russell T Davies considered the success of the 60-year-old sci-fi series, explaining that his job as a writer on Doctor Who wasn’t to reinvent the wheel, but to look for ways to ‘make it spin better’. He also offered some teasers about the Time Lord’s latest villains, including the Bogeyman – ‘a

good, old-fashioned scary Doctor Who monster’ – and a music-based baddie called Maestro.

‘She’s part of this pantheon of gods with enormous powers,’ said Russell. ‘I think Doctor Who is all the more exciting when the enemy is impossible to beat, and this is someone changing all of time and space around them.’

It’s easy to feel defeated

While Doctor Who invites viewers to take a trip into the realms of fantasy, perhaps the notions of facing the impossible and struggling with change hit much closer to home. In the real world, all of us know what it’s like to encounter difficulties. All of us experience times when we don’t know what to do next. When life feels complicated and confusing, it’s easy to feel defeated. Maybe the pressure we are under at work or home is draining the life out of us. Or perhaps a medical diagnosis has turned our world upside down and we can’t see a way forward. It could be that we have fallen into destructive patterns

The Doctor and companion Ruby are ready to travel through time and space

of behaviour and, although we want to change our circumstances, we feel too afraid or don’t know how to.

In the difficult times and spaces in which we find ourselves, there is always a source of strength and peace available. When we turn to God and trust that his love is enough to sustain us, we can face any obstacle in our way.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus preached such a message to downtrodden people. He assured his followers that God was greater than any problems they may face. And he said that when anyone put their faith in God, the impossible could become possible.

Jesus put it like this: ‘There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything’ (Matthew 19:26 Contemporary English Version).

Whatever challenges we face today and in the future, we are not beaten. God is willing to transform our lives, replacing our weakness with his strength and our fear with his peace. When we invite him into our heart – and choose to follow his lead – we will find him to be the ultimate companion.

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Wise words from the young ones

Claire Brine gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters

AMBIKA MOD, Bukayo Saka and Leah Williamson are among the 25 ‘most inspiring people aged 30 and under’ in the UK and Ireland, according to the first Sunday Times Young Power List. Featuring artists, entertainers, sport stars, entrepreneurs and others, the list claimed that it was made up of ‘not just the best young talent, but the people who are making a real impact in the world’.

I read with interest the accompanying online article, which described the list of winners as ‘optimism in action’. It was also good to hear each individual revealing some of the advice that ‘helped them get to where they are today’.

Ambika Mod, who starred in the Netflix hit One Day, shared with readers the advice, ‘Whatever you want to do in life, just start’, suggesting that if you don’t start, you don’t get anywhere. Along the same lines, England footballer Bukayo Saka offered some words of wisdom from his first coach: ‘If you don’t shoot, you don’t score.’ And Lioness Leah Williamson cited how important it is to ‘always believe in yourself’.

All sound advice, from wise young people in the public eye. But some of the lesser-known individuals also had valuable insights.

Joe Seddon, who founded the Zero Gravity website and app – which ‘identifies ambitious students from low opportunity backgrounds’ and connects them with mentors, education and job opportunities – said: ‘Don’t bank on being an overnight success... Never forget the reason you started in the first place.’

The reminder to hold on tight to the reason that we follow a particular path in our life is worth heeding, particularly on tough days when it’s tempting to quit. It’s advice that I can also apply to my faith in God, which – over the years – has had ups and downs.

In the ups, I find it easy to strive to be a better Christian. But in the downs, it’s important for me to reflect on the reasons that I chose to put my faith in God in the first place. When I take time to remember that he loves me unconditionally, forgives my failings and wants to guide my future steps, it’s then that I’m in the best position to reach my potential of making a positive impact in the world.

WAR

A FILM set in Bible times about a drug dealer who is mistaken for the Messiah has been described by the Bishop of Leeds as a film that ‘dances in the cracks of the Gospel narratives, bringing out the humanity of the story’.

Released at cinemas last month, The Book of Clarence stars LaKeith Stanfield in the title role, plus David Oyelowo as John the Baptist and James McAvoy as Pontius Pilate.

Writing on the Times website, the Right Rev Nick Baines referred to Clarence as a drug dealer ‘who shadows Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples, trying to replicate their charismatic impact, but as a means to make money’.

After reflecting on the moment in the film when Clarence ‘gets taken for a new Messiah by some’, Nick wrote that the story raises a challenging question for audiences today: ‘What sort of Messiah are we looking for?’

The bishop also commented on how the film’s writer and director, Jeymes Samuel, handles the combination of comedy and faith on screen, saying that his ‘attempt to explore faith, community and creativity produces a respectfully disrespectful and funny film that refreshingly poses the right questions... Faith is taken seriously as a change-maker for human beings trying to make collective meaning in and of their world.’

WAR CRYWn

Clergy brought down to earth

TWO clergymen abseiled 42ft from the belltower of Rotherham Minster in order to launch a £3 million fundraising campaign to redevelop the building, reported the BBC News website.

According to the article, the Rev Canon Phil Batchford and the Right Rev Dr Pete Wilcox wore their clerical robes to complete the abseil, which took place inside the Grade I listed building. The minster, formerly known as All Saints’ Parish Church, has ‘dominated the space over All Saints Square in Rotherham town centre for more than 500 years’.

Canon Batchford, the vicar of the minster, said that the building needed ‘reordering internally’ to turn it into a more modern space, fit for concerts and exhibitions, as well as ‘choral singing and food support for those in need’.

Recognising that he had chosen an unusual way to kickstart the fundraising scheme, he said: ‘Rotherham Minster is an incredible building and one that lies in the heart of the place and we need to ensure it is here for another 1,000 years.’

nTHE Archbishop of York led a rock mass while visiting a church in West Yorkshire, reported the Halifax Courier website.

Combining contemporary and classic rock with traditional liturgy, the service at Holy Nativity Church in Mixenden, Halifax, featured heavy guitars and drum music.

The rock mass takes place once a month and has been running for more than 10 years.

‘As a former vicar of Huddersfield, I know Mixenden well,’ said the archbishop, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell. ‘It is inspiring to see the spirit of creativity and connection is still thriving in this fabulous community.’

‘Long-forgotten’ women remembered

A NEW pilgrimage route honouring women who have been integral to the development of Christianity in England has been launched in Kent.

New perspective for Olympian swimmer

THREE-time Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty has said that his faith has given him a new perspective on his swimming career.

The route, called the Royal Kentish Camino, links churches in Canterbury, Lyminge and Folkestone, and aims to highlight the role that three royal women played in the spread of Christianity. The path, which is just over 23 miles, begins at St Martin’s Church in Canterbury, the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world. It was used by Queen Bertha, who is thought to have encouraged her pagan husband, King Ethelbert, to accept Christianity and invite the Pope to send the Christian mission that led to the conversion of England.

In an interview on the BBC website, Adam explained that, after breaking his foot and burning himself out, he had been ‘ready to walk away from the sport’ but exploring Christianity changed everything for him.

He added that his faith had kept his behaviour in check too, saying: ‘Let’s take, for example, a few years ago, I’d act a certain way, my behaviour would be out of line and your ego would support that. So it would be like: “Oh, that doesn’t matter.”

‘But now, if my behaviour is starting to get out of line, I check in with myself, I check in with my Bible, I check in with things which keep me grounded. Like checking in with people at church… I’m still learning.’

Ahead of the Paris Olympics later this year, where he will aim to become the second male swimmer in history to defend his title twice in a row, Adam said: ‘Win or lose, I’ve already won because I’ve got so much to be grateful for. I’m highly blessed.’

Also honoured are Queen Ethelburga, Bertha’s daughter, who began the conversion of the north of England, and Bertha’s granddaughter, Princess Eanswythe, who is recorded as founding an early Christian community in Folkestone.

Senior visitor host at St Martin’s Jessica Morris said: ‘This new pilgrimage route is important in uniting three long-forgotten Christian women. Here at St Martin’s, we hope that people will enjoy this camino whether it be to connect to the centuries of prayer within our walls or to explore the rich history that Kent, and these churches, have to offer.’

The Rev Canon Phil Batchford abseils from the minster’s belltower SHAUN FLANNERY

Adam Peaty

DYING WISH

Statistics show that the majority of people have not written a will. Retired solicitor MATTHEW HUTTON has written a book to help people get their affairs in order before they die, as a gift to leave their loved ones. To mark Dying Matters Awareness Week, which began on Monday (6 May), he explains the value of preparing for death and talks about his own attitude to it

Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

Matthew Hutton

WHAT gift would you want to leave to your loved ones when you die? Lots of money, some property or perhaps a family heirloom? Retired solicitor Matthew Hutton, who is also a Church of England minister, suggests that the best gift is to leave your affairs in order.

‘One of my friends had been left high and dry by her husband’s sudden death,’ Matthew explains. ‘He was a solicitor, didn’t have a will, had died abroad, and she had been left in a complete mess.

‘She came to a weekend away that my wife and I organised for friends. During the weekend another of our friends, a recent widow, whose husband was a very old friend of mine, suggested that leaving a full record would be a real gift to the family you leave behind.’

That’s where the title of Matthew’s book Your Last Gift originated. The short text – endorsed by Stephen Fry, Rupert Everett and former chairman of the NHS Lord Prior of Brampton – is a detailed guide to what that full record could contain, ending with two checklists and five forms to help people practically.

‘It’s not meant to be an exam,’ says Matthew. ‘You do as much or as little as you want, whenever you want. But if you work your way through the forms, you can be pretty sure you’ve covered the ground. I feel that, rather than simply confront people with 50 pages of manuscript to fill in, it’s important to give them something to read, to encourage them to address the issues.

‘Anybody who has been confronted by the death of somebody close to them will know that, quite apart from dealing with the grief and devastation, you’re totally blown away by all the stuff you have to deal with. So the idea is to make it easier in advance. It isn’t meant to be a solo thing either – it’s a journey that you make with those close to you.’

plan for everything else in life as far as we’re able – where we’re going to live, who we’re going to marry, whether to have children, jobs, pasttimes, holidays and everything else – so what about planning for the most inevitable thing?

‘I think it’s largely a case of out of sight and out of mind. Most people’s lives are frankly pretty busy, and it doesn’t rank very high on their list of priorities.’

We need to talk about death

Matthew wants to help people see why preparing for death must move higher up on the list of priorities. His background as a solicitor has assisted him in offering insights into the practical and legal elements of the relevant documents.

or in family circumstances.’

In the book, Matthew encourages readers to consider whether they have made lasting powers of attorney, who will be told about their death, what happens with children who are minors, pets, cash and how digital possessions can be managed. Interweaved in the chapters about preparation, practicalities, people and possessions are a variety of cartoons and pithy quotes.

‘Some of them were meant to make you think and others were just meant to make you smile,’ he says.

Studies have shown that less than half of UK adults have written a will – which Matthew believes must change.

‘Most people think: “I’m young, it’s not going to happen to me.” But that’s silly, because tragically some people do die young. It’s not a matter of age. Also, we

‘I did wills for people and advised on inheritance tax,’ he says. ‘I’d sometimes make wills for people who were critically ill and wanted to confirm who should inherit their property. I always say that a will is a moving document. Once you’ve made your will you ought to come back to it every five years, or when there has been any significant change in legislation

Dying Matters Week, a campaign run by charity Hospice UK, began on Monday 6 May. It encourages communities to talk about death and dying, asserting that timely conversations are essential to good end-of-life care.

Matthew thinks that talking about death in general is important too, but he is aware that society is not comfortable discussing it.

‘Our society in the UK is very materialistic, and largely non-spiritual,’ he

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From page 7

says. ‘There is uncertainty about death. But I think we need to talk about it. It’s the other end of life. If we close our eyes to it, we’re being unrealistic. Covid has helped to bring a sense of reality.’

Matthew is impressed by a palliative care doctor called Kathryn Mannix who says she has been present at somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths, and has produced a four-minute video which describes what happens when the body closes down.

In Your Last Gift, Matthew quotes Kathryn as saying: ‘By encountering death many thousands of times, I have come to a view that there is usually little to fear and much to prepare for.’ Through writing the book, he hopes to enable people to make those preparations, seeing it as a gift they can leave for their loved ones.

Even with the practicalities sorted, some people may still have fears about death. But Matthew has found that his Christian faith gives him hope.

‘Death is still the last enemy,’ he says. ‘Until we face it, we can’t know what it will be like. But the hope is that Jesus is with us as we die. We have eternal life by God’s grace, and it starts when we come to faith. One of my favourite Bible verses is John 5:24, in which Jesus says: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, and has crossed over from death to life.”

‘Death may be painful and horrific, but we trust that God will keep us and that afterwards, all the pain and the suffering of this life will be no more.

‘I believe we will have to give an account of what we’ve done with what God has given us, but ultimately, we are his son or his daughter, and we will be with him for ever.’

Matthew’s ‘Critical Checklist’ of preparing for dying

1. Have you made lasting powers of attorney?

2. Who should be the first people to be told about your death – and then who else?

3. If you have minor children, who is to take care of them?

4. If you have pets, who is to look after them?

5. Immediate cash: especially if you handle the money or are much richer than your other half, how is the survivor to access money for necessities?

6. Where are the passwords to your digital devices and the key or code to your safe?

7. Where is your will? This needs to be located and read at once.

8. Confirm the information which your nearest and dearest will need to register your death, which has to be done in a matter of days.

BANKING ON IT

TOM HALL, global head of social impact and philanthropy at UBS bank,

believes that careful

wealth stewardship can solve global health, education and environmental issues

Interview by Emily Bright

TRAVELLING through Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park with a church minister in 2002, 19-year-old Tom Hall had a conversation that would change the trajectory of his life. He spotted a man scraping salt from a mine, trying to fill a sack in order to provide for his family. Tom discovered that such exhausting work would earn the man the equivalent of a dollar a month.

‘It was soul-destroying, backbreaking, grinding poverty,’ he says. ‘I wanted to do something, but I had a sense of despair that, even if I could help that one person, I couldn’t really help everyone like them.

‘My friend Emmanuel was like: “What they need is a refrigerated lorry.” I didn’t understand why.

‘He explained: “If they had a lorry with a fridge, then they could fish and then they could drive it to the market. Then they could sell the fish and would have more money

to lobby for more rights.’

For Tom, this was the lightbulb moment. He understood that by changing systems and situations it was possible to help people to help themselves. It meant that he could use what he believed to be his ‘God-given talents and energy’ to solve issues on ‘a massive scale’.

Inspired by the impact that creative solutions could have on the developing world, Tom decided to join the charity sector and work for a microfinance start-up organisation, in which philanthropists lent money to people to invest in businesses.

‘About four months into my job,’ recalls Tom, ‘Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel peace prize for microfinance. We became more relevant than ever

Tom Hall

before. Suddenly, we received support from Goldman Sachs bankers and raised three times the charity’s income in one month. It was a step change, and that really started a way of thinking differently.’

Tom realised the importance of recycling wealth through self-sustaining schemes.

‘At best, $10 trillion will go into philanthropy over the next 15 to 20 years,’ he says. ‘That’s five times more than it is today, but to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we need $30 trillion.

‘With microfinance, you’re lending people the money to start their business. They can pay it back so that you can then pay it forward to someone else. Those sustainable systems are critical.’

One day, Tom received an unexpected phone call from a headhunter. They offered him the opportunity to set up a charitable foundation for wealth management bank UBS. Shifting from the charity sector to the highly pressurised banking sector seemed daunting to Tom, and he had doubts.

‘I was afraid to move,’ he says. ‘The targets were super ambitious. I was also worried about going to work in the financial services industry, and whether the money would corrupt me.’

Having been a Christian since childhood, Tom turned to his faith and – after a time of prayer – felt guided by God to ‘take a risk to go and move into a different institution’.

He says: ‘I hadn’t even gone through the interview process at that point, but it gave me the confidence to take the job when I was eventually offered it.’

He joined UBS in 2013 to set up the bank’s Optimus Foundation, which now runs collectives and works with partners across the world. For instance, it has a Climate Collective and works in partnership with Farm Africa. Tom explains that Optimus pays for results – also known as outcome contracts – and ensures a scheme’s transparency and efficiency through external auditing.

‘Optimus has been designed to identify really high-impact interventions across health, education and the environment,’ he says. ‘We chose those three areas because

we think they are the key fundamental building blocks to human flourishing.

‘We advise clients on grant-based interventions and investing, and help them to maximise the impact, making sure that they’re targeting the resources at something that could be effective. We try –wherever possible – to find things that we call “impact unicorns”, which have the potential to have an impact in the billions. If you don’t scale, you can’t solve problems.’

We help clients maximise the impact

of healthcare and vaccines. We found that it was reducing infant mortality really effectively. Fast-forward five years and it had been adopted as policy by the Liberian government.

Tom gives examples of previous projects.

‘In 2014, we funded a small pilot in Liberia where community health workers trained local people in simple delivery

‘The results-based mechanism also benefited one of our early education partners in Ghana, Rising Academy, who wanted to develop a curriculum which used technology that was easier for teachers to implement. With a very small grant, they proved that they could get almost twice the learning going compared to the status quo. Then over the years, they’ve developed their own business model to be invested in by philanthropic capital.’

The UBS Climate Collective supports mangrove restoration in southeast Asia

Tom says that, given time, projects such as Rising Academy can transform economies.

‘This project could increase the learning outcomes for millions of children. If you do that over a 10-year period, you will have a better-educated workforce, who hopefully set up their own businesses, which will then feed that economy.

‘The Ghanaian government can then afford to spend more per child per year, so you can bring educational benefits back to those families who can’t afford to send their kids to school yet.’

adding that he’d encourage more Christians to ‘live out their purpose and vocation in the workplace, using their unique gifts and talents’.

Part of a nation is its infrastructure

Some people may question – in the light of Jesus’ teachings about the danger of riches – whether Christians should be working in a sector that deals with vast wealth, such as banking. Tom believes that they have an important role to play.

He cites the biblical book of 1 Corinthians, in which the writer likens the Church to a body, with every person contributing something.

‘God calls us to go out to all nations and peoples. Part of a nation is its infrastructure. And that needs to be lit by the light of the gospel. Jesus can change the very fabric of society for the better because faith-motivated people are living out their hope in all these different places.’

As Tom aims to take the light of the gospel into his workplace, he finds reassurance in his belief that God has plans to prosper him. He also sees God’s faithful provision throughout his life.

Overseeing the work of the foundation is more than just a day job. Tom describes his work in philanthropy as ‘a calling’,

‘You have to have different parts of the body,’ he says. ‘And the body has to be fed so that it can do its work.

‘My go-to Bible verse talks about how God’s “power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine”. I sometimes look at my life and realise that, in so many ways, this is way more than I could have asked for or imagined.’

Farm Africa helps communities build resilience in Ethiopia

Prayerlink

THE War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

jBecoming a

Christian

There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Lord Jesus Christ,

I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

This week: Morley

with Adrian Gotobed, one of the

At Morley Salvation Army, it doesn’t matter if you’re totally new to faith or have been going to church all your life. Some of our congregation wear Salvation Army uniform, while others are dressed more casually and don’t wear a uniform at all.

Every Sunday, we have a service which lasts about an hour and is accessible for all ages. If people can’t get to our hall, they can catch the service on Facebook Live or YouTube. Our brass band always plays, and we have a worship band with guitars, keyboards and singers. After the service, everyone stays behind for tea, coffee and biscuits. It’s important to have that time to chat.

During the week, various activities take place. On Mondays, we run a lunch club. On Wednesdays, we hold Toddler Church, which provides a space for children to play but also the opportunity to sing some simple Christian songs and listen to a Bible story. On Thursdays, we are open for Welcome Space, which allows people to come in from the cold and have hot drinks and soup. We also run an initiative called Band Basics. It’s a 12-week course that teaches kids how to read music and play a brass instrument. We get about 12 children coming to that – and some of them come along on a Sunday too.

Just before Christmas, some of our congregation were featured sorting out Christmas presents on BBC1’s The One Show. Presenter Matt Allwright did a live segment at our hall, talking about the Salvation Army’s Big Toy Appeal and how it helps families in need.

Another claim to fame is that TV chef Brian Turner used to come to Morley Salvation Army when he was a boy. In the 1960s, he played in the band, before he moved to London to become a chef.

There are still people in Morley who need to know that God loves them –and if The Salvation Army were to close its doors, who would tell them? That’s what motivates us to keep going.

Adrian was speaking to Claire Brine

To receive basic reading about Christianity and information about The Salvation Army, complete this coupon and send it to

War Cry 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

Name

Address

Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

QUICK QUIZ

1 2 3 4 5 6

Which group had a No 1 hit in 1976 with their song ‘Dancing Queen’?

Who wrote the 19th-century novel A Tale of Two Cities?

Who won this year’s golf Masters?

Who plays Chris Carson in BBC1’s The Responder ?

Which country’s flag features a red maple leaf on a white square between two red borders?

Who played mum Barbara in the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, released last year? 1. Abba. 2. Charles Dickens. 3.

ANSWERS

HOPING FOR THE DIZZY HEIGHTS

Olly Alexander aims for starring role at Eurovision

TV preview by Emily Bright

WHETHER TV viewers are in a state of euphoria about the Eurovision Song Contest or think that having to watch it would be a personal Waterloo, they may well know that the final takes place this weekend. All the action will be broadcast live on BBC1 on Saturday (11 May).

Complete with outlandish outfits, an inclusive atmosphere and a variety of talent, this year’s contest is already under way in host city Malmö. Sweden has a rich musical heritage, home to the likes of Abba, Zara Larsson and Swedish House Mafia, but UK contestant Olly Alexander will be hoping to make his musical mark in the country in Eurovision’s 68th year.

The singer is well versed in creating popular tracks – to the tune of two No 1 albums, 10 Top 40 singles and the Brit billion award for the 6.5 billion streams his music has generated globally. He will perform ‘Dizzy’, which he wrote with producer Danny L Harle.

Speaking about his song ahead of the competition, Olly said: ‘Danny and I believe music should transport you somewhere magical and we wanted to describe this magical place in the song; a place of “beautiful gardens, eternal flowers” and time turning endlessly in an ecstatic loop.’

Olly Alexander

PUZZLES

Quick CROSSWORD

20. Fourscore (6)

21. Niche (6)

22. Fungus (6)

23. Haberdasher (6)

APPLE CRUMBLE

BAKEWELL TART

BANOFFEE PIE

BROWNIE

CHEESECAKE

ECCLES CAKE

ETON MESS FLAPJACK

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CUSTARD DOUGHNUT

GINGER CAKE

Garage. 8. Rector. 9. Scared.

Tremor.

Let.

Plunge.

Ousted.

Bungle. 21. Remedy. 24. Ire.

Crying.

Cellar. 27. Assent. 28. Seemed.

Vegetable chilli

INGREDIENTS

2-3 onions

METHOD

1 red pepper

150g carrots

1 courgette

100g mushrooms

2tsp rapeseed oil

1-2tsp chilli powder

1tsp ground cumin

1tsp oregano

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

400g can lentils in water

400g can cannellini beans in water

1tbsp tomato ketchup

Fresh coriander, to serve

6

Finely chop the onions, red pepper, carrots, courgette and mushrooms, and set aside. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onions for 5-8 minutes, until they start to brown. Add the red pepper, carrots, courgette and mushrooms and cook for another 10 minutes. Add the chilli powder, cumin, oregano and tomatoes and cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Pour in the lentils and cannellini beans,

Golden soup

INGREDIENTS

1 red onion

1 white onion

1 red pepper

2 yellow peppers

2 large courgettes

2 tomatoes

Dried mixed herbs

1tsp nutritional yeast

500ml lowsalt stock

Salt and ground black pepper

Fresh coriander, to serve

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Chop the onions, peppers, courgettes and tomatoes into chunks, then spread out on a roasting tray. Sprinkle over a pinch of the mixed herbs and the nutritional yeast. Roast in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes, until the vegetables are golden and browned on the edges.

Add the roasted vegetables to a blender with the stock and whizz until smooth. Pour into a deep pan and warm on the hob. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then garnish with fresh coriander, to serve.

Let us not become weary in doing good

Galatians 6:9

(New International Version)