US members of the congregation had a little excitement when President Obama nearly made it into the parish! Our reporter was told that some of them enjoyed watching the Metropolitan Police, US Secret Service personnel and White House staff – complete with very unfriendly sniffer dogs and snipers on the roof – prepare the American School in Swiss Cottage for the Obamas to host a reception for US Embassy staff at the school – probably the biggest American private-owned venue in London. A key figure welcoming the President and First Lady was Head of School Coreen Hester, shown on the right of the photograph, who is a new member of our congregation. I guess she will have a good story to share over coffee one Sunday. Others had to wave at the motorcade from a distance but, as one put it, “We only got as close as a wave from Michelle, still pretty cool.” Another commented “Can you believe they have their own Starbucks on wheels within the motorcade?” All I can say is, our publicity for Fairtrade coffee obviously isn’t working yet!
The Obamas visit Hampstead