An Australian family have enjoyed their first English winter together with relatives in Moreton Say.
Rod and Barbara Drake, along with their children Clare, Patrick and Gemma, stayed with Rod’s brother Mark Drake and his wife Fran at their home in Rhiews Bank.
During their stay, the family from Brisbane experienced north Shropshire snow and a carol service at St Peter’s Church, Adderley.
Rod said: “We’ve been mainly catching up with Mark and Fran, who we haven’t seen for eight years, and visiting friends and relatives in England.
“We enjoyed the snow and it was nice to experience wintry weather for a change because we don’t get snow in Brisbane.
“It’s been our first visit to Rhiews Bank and Fran and Mark have been very welcoming.”
Rod, originally from Essex, moved to Australia 26 years ago after meeting his wife on a cruise in 1981 and marrying her two years later.
Clare, 23, has been in England for seven months after stopping off on a round the world trip and Gemma, 19, plans to stay and work in England for a year.
She said: “The most exciting part of my time here has been seeing Mark and Fran, seeing everything covered in snow and standing on a frozen pond.”
Clare said: “I’ve been away from my family for a long time, so being all together on Christmas Day was pretty fun and we went out and played in the snow.”
Rod and Barbara were due to return to Australia on Thursday with fond memories of their visit to St Peter’s Church.
Barbara said: “We wanted to go to church for Christmas because it’s not Christmas for me without having a church experience.
“We went to St Peter’s and the people there welcomed us with open arms which was really special.
“After the service, we had mulled wine and mince pies which was glorious and all the people came and spoke to us.
“I don’t know if the church at Adderley knew what to expect with an Australian family there but I can’t remember ever feeling as welcomed in a church we’d never been to before.”
Mark said: “It’s been fantastic to have them here because it’s been a chance to catch up and see how all the kids have grown up.
“We hadn’t seen them for eight years but it’s just been like carrying on from where we left off.”
By Winston Brown