Laura to celebrate 40 years of pilgrimage
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| Laura Gibson who has been making the pilgrimage to Lourdes since 1968 |
EVERY year millions of people from all over the world make the trek to the French holy site of Lourdes.
Some make the trip to the site where Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared in the 19th Century, hoping for a miracle cure.
Others go there for the opportunity to see the world- famous site in all its glory.
But for one Swindon woman a visit to Lourdes is an annual fixture in her calendar.
Laura Gibson, 89, of Eastcott Hill, has been organising visits to the religious site for 39 years.
Now plans are afoot for her 40th trip - and she cannot wait.
"I'm so excited to be going for the 40th time," she said.
"I've only missed one year in all that time.
"I really enjoy arranging the trip and this one should be another enjoyable occasion. People have said they think our lady seems to have picked me to organise this special trip and that I'm their inspiration.
"It is such a beautiful place to go to, you just can't imagine. Words cannot describe how magical it is - you just have to visit."
Laura, who has been suffering from heart trouble and an over-active thyroid, thinks her upcoming trip will act as the perfect tonic.
It is said that peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous had a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes in 1858.
Great grandmother Laura's first visit to the shrine was in 1968.
She took a small group of friends and family to Lourdes and found the experience so overwhelming she decided to make her pilgrimage an annual event.
On an early visit she had a brush with the shrine's reputed healing properties when her injured hand recovered soon after she touched the waters at the shrine.
This year Laura plans to take a wheelchair along - but does not expect she will need to use it.
She will turn 90 on January 14 next year but has never lost her enthusiasm for travelling to France with others following her lead.
"There are people coming from America and India as well as Oxford, Cambridge and Swindon," she said.
The coach party will stay in a hotel with views over the Pyrenees mountains and the trip will run from August 23 to 29. There are still five places available on the 54-seated capacity bus.
For more information and to book a place on the bus, please ring Laura on 01793 487821.
11:46am Saturday 10th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Terence, Swindon on 1:55pm Sat 10 May 08
Nowadays people tend to be more incredulous but if we got twenty or so people to say that they saw the Virgin Mary in Swindon we could turn the town into a tourist attraction just like Lourdes.
Nowadays people tend to be more incredulous but if we got twenty or so people to say that they saw the Virgin Mary in Swindon we could turn the town into a tourist attraction just like Lourdes.
Posted by: Polymath, Swindon on 1:59pm Sat 10 May 08
As an atheist, I have visited London 25 times to look at architecture. This is news.
As an atheist, I have visited London 25 times to look at architecture. This is news.
Posted by: Frontier(s) on 4:08pm Sat 10 May 08
Good luck to her.
Admittedly, it's not really news, as such, but for anyone to make such a trip at nearly 90 years old is quite an achievement.
I hope she has a great trip.
Good luck to her.
Admittedly, it's not really news, as such, but for anyone to make such a trip at nearly 90 years old is quite an achievement.
I hope she has a great trip.
Posted by: Casual Observer, Swindon on 5:07pm Sat 10 May 08
Terence, if that was meant to be funny or clever you failed.
She's a lovely old lady who outlived her grandson, Karl Gibson, who sadly died in a road accident. For her to have this much energy and enthusiasm at this age truly is something worth reporting on, and something I doubt you'll ever achieve.
I'm agnostic myself but one thing I do believe, judging by the guff you usually come out with, is that you are a grade A bum hole.
Terence, if that was meant to be funny or clever you failed.
She's a lovely old lady who outlived her grandson, Karl Gibson, who sadly died in a road accident. For her to have this much energy and enthusiasm at this age truly is something worth reporting on, and something I doubt you'll ever achieve.
I'm agnostic myself but one thing I do believe, judging by the guff you usually come out with, is that you are a grade A bum hole.
Posted by: Grumpy, Swindon on 5:13pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]Terence[/bold] wrote:
Nowadays people tend to be more incredulous but if we got twenty or so people to say that they saw the Virgin Mary in Swindon we could turn the town into a tourist attraction just like Lourdes.[/quote] You might be able to find someone called Mary, but a virgin........
Terence wrote:
Nowadays people tend to be more incredulous but if we got twenty or so people to say that they saw the Virgin Mary in Swindon we could turn the town into a tourist attraction just like Lourdes.
You might be able to find someone called Mary, but a virgin........
Posted by: me here, somewhere on 8:55pm Sat 10 May 08
She looks very good for her age, her faith and pilgrimmages seem to have had a very positive effect on her. Lourdes is a very uplifting and beautiful place.
She looks very good for her age, her faith and pilgrimmages seem to have had a very positive effect on her. Lourdes is a very uplifting and beautiful place.
Posted by: Terence, Swindon on 10:01am Sun 11 May 08
If my previous comment was unduly cynical I do apologise.
Casual Observer (and I stress the 'casual') - calling someone a 'bum hole' (how old are you?) leads one to believe that you are incapable of rational argument and cover this up with immature tirades against people who upset your sensibilities. You may claim to be agnostic, but your 'judgements' are religious in nature with yourself always correct and doubters to be damned.
You do not hold a monopoly over humour and what you fail to find amusing may amuse others, you exhibit the classic signs of an autocratic mindset.
I wonder what your upbringing was like because you seem to be very bitter about something, please try to remember that whatever happened to you during those years, if anything, us fellow commentators were not responsible.
If my previous comment was unduly cynical I do apologise.
Casual Observer (and I stress the 'casual') - calling someone a 'bum hole' (how old are you?) leads one to believe that you are incapable of rational argument and cover this up with immature tirades against people who upset your sensibilities. You may claim to be agnostic, but your 'judgements' are religious in nature with yourself always correct and doubters to be damned.
You do not hold a monopoly over humour and what you fail to find amusing may amuse others, you exhibit the classic signs of an autocratic mindset.
I wonder what your upbringing was like because you seem to be very bitter about something, please try to remember that whatever happened to you during those years, if anything, us fellow commentators were not responsible.
Posted by: Casual Observer, Swindon on 12:50pm Sun 11 May 08
Thanks for the psychoanalysis Mr Methane - if I thought for a second you were right I'd be worried.
[quote]your 'judgements' are religious in nature with yourself always correct and doubters to be damned.[/quote]
Dear me, that's a bit rich coming from you.
Thanks for the psychoanalysis Mr Methane - if I thought for a second you were right I'd be worried.
your 'judgements' are religious in nature with yourself always correct and doubters to be damned.
Dear me, that's a bit rich coming from you.
Posted by: Terence, Swindon on 3:43pm Sun 11 May 08
Casual Observer - You're very welcome, I just hope you reflect upon what I wrote rather than disregard it in the same way you seem to ignore any opinions which do not confirm your preconceived opinions.
You really do seem an angry specimen. Ask your friends (or your wife/girlfriend if you have one) what they feel about your name-calling and the more intelligent ones will reply something like "water off a duck's back, all you are doing is advertising your own inadequacies and lack of self-esteem" It may make you feel better to believe everyone of a different opinion is beneath you and needs to be insulted but there are better ways to feel good about yourself. Try to drop all that bitterness and join the world of mature adults, believe me, you'll enjoy it and feel much better about yourself and the world around you.
Regarding your last comment, I express my views and am very willing to have them disputed, if other arguments are well founded I will alter my own views suitably. I believe most of this site's users are similarly inlined and manage to refrain from issuing cheap inneffectual insults.
PS Your views on many subjects seem close to an intuitional libertarian viewpoint, try reading up on libertarianism a a little and then you'll be able to have a decent argument with people and argue your case based upon reason rather than calling your defactors 'stupid tw*ts' or whatever other choice phrases you have in your vocabulary.
Casual Observer - You're very welcome, I just hope you reflect upon what I wrote rather than disregard it in the same way you seem to ignore any opinions which do not confirm your preconceived opinions.
You really do seem an angry specimen. Ask your friends (or your wife/girlfriend if you have one) what they feel about your name-calling and the more intelligent ones will reply something like "water off a duck's back, all you are doing is advertising your own inadequacies and lack of self-esteem" It may make you feel better to believe everyone of a different opinion is beneath you and needs to be insulted but there are better ways to feel good about yourself. Try to drop all that bitterness and join the world of mature adults, believe me, you'll enjoy it and feel much better about yourself and the world around you.
Regarding your last comment, I express my views and am very willing to have them disputed, if other arguments are well founded I will alter my own views suitably. I believe most of this site's users are similarly inlined and manage to refrain from issuing cheap inneffectual insults.
PS Your views on many subjects seem close to an intuitional libertarian viewpoint, try reading up on libertarianism a a little and then you'll be able to have a decent argument with people and argue your case based upon reason rather than calling your defactors 'stupid tw*ts' or whatever other choice phrases you have in your vocabulary.
Posted by: Casual Observer, Swindon on 8:08pm Sun 11 May 08
(Terry would like to engage me further, to the point of making up my responses..)
Go on big man, knock yourself out..
(Terry would like to engage me further, to the point of making up my responses..)
Go on big man, knock yourself out..
Posted by: Terence, Swindon on 9:00pm Sun 11 May 08
Casual Observer - Well done! You do appear to be making big strides toward being a responsible poster, but are still not quite there what with your 'Terry' and 'big man'. Credit where credit is due though, you do appear to be making an effort and I must congratulate you on your progress so far. If you remain on course and vigilant against regression you will soon find yourself amused by, and even feeling pity for, foul-mouthed crass bigots who have nothing better to do than try to cause offence.
Casual Observer - Well done! You do appear to be making big strides toward being a responsible poster, but are still not quite there what with your 'Terry' and 'big man'. Credit where credit is due though, you do appear to be making an effort and I must congratulate you on your progress so far. If you remain on course and vigilant against regression you will soon find yourself amused by, and even feeling pity for, foul-mouthed crass bigots who have nothing better to do than try to cause offence.
Posted by: Casual Observer, Swindon on 9:55pm Sun 11 May 08
I rest my case
Posted by: Terence, Swindon on 11:10pm Sun 11 May 08
You've done it! I'm proud of you, a post with no profanities. As a reward you may have the last say if you wish (I believe you find such things important, but don't go using those ugly words again!)
PS You have to have a case to be able to rest it.
You've done it! I'm proud of you, a post with no profanities. As a reward you may have the last say if you wish (I believe you find such things important, but don't go using those ugly words again!)
PS You have to have a case to be able to rest it.
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