We were recently delighted and privileged to welcome Sallie Vallins to our Church.  Sallie has some very special connections to St Michael's and we have established contact with her through our  project that is tracing the stories of the thirty three men, whose names are on our First world war Roll of Honour. 

Sallie is the granddaughter of the first vicar of St Michael's - Revd L. McNeill Shelford - and of our first Churchwarden - Charles Coombs.  This is because Sallie is the daughter of Revd Shelford's daughter, Flora, who married Mr Coombs' son, Ralph.  Her parents' wedding was in 1922 - shortly after the war.  There is a wonderful report of the occasion in the Parish Magazine which describes the wedding as 'the social event of the season' and tells us that the wedding cake was cut by the best man's bayonet!  The Bishop of Kensington officiated and the Choir sang an anthem - Blessed Be the God and Father by S.S. Wesley. 

Sadly two of  Sallie's father's brothers, Frank and Leslie Coombs, died in the war and they are listed on the Roll of Honour.