Subject: re Sir George Williams of Dulverton Many of you will remember my previous message some time back (few years!) finding who Founded YMCA, a Somerset lad, George Williams of Dulverton. Born 1821 died 1905. Knighted by Queen Victoria in 1897. at St Paul's Cathedral in London, there is a Bust of Sir George, hope to visit London next year and see it! My reason for putting this on your site now, is that I managed to purchase a book here in New Zealand on Auckland YMCA, and it gives the history of the YMCA also photographs of George's parents and a photograph of the farm near Dulverton, Ashway Farm.. I would love to visit the town where he came from, put the icing on the cake so to say! The book is celebrating 150 years of YMCA (NZ) its called Body, Mind and Spirit. Founded in Auckland back in 1855, so YMCA would be young even back then, founded in London in 1844. George is buried at St Pauls, but in Westminster Abbey there is a wonderful stained glass window with YMCA, and about Soldiers, WW1. all worth visiting, I do have the photograph of the window, from Westminster Abbey Office, and permitted to use it with kind permission from Dean and Chapter, has this in the book as well.. the book is by Colin Taylor.. a fellow English person too, now a Kiwi.. Just looked at the map and seen where Dulverton is, not far from Porlock where I had my Honeymoon! Perhaps with historians working with the WW1 in 2014, will realise that YMCA were involved with the War and soldiers, like Scouts from England over on the Continent helping with Ambulances for the wounded soldiers.. I know over here in Featherston Military Camp, YMCA had an office for the soldiers to relax and write letters home, using YMCA notepaper, I have a few pages of this as well! One of our early settlers to New Zealand had been in London with YMCA and Hitchcock Williams in St Pauls Churchyard (it's a thoroughfare as well as a churchyard, know it very well being a Londoner!) I have learnt quite a bit since finding out about George Williams but this is so interesting finding out who started the movement.. the book is worth reading and seeing the photographs in it. I was wondering this week, why hadn't this message appeared on Somerset. Answer, incorrect address so doing it again, and writing full SOMERSET and not just Som. Compliments of the Season. Adele Clareville Taphophile.