"Over 200 sailors and soldiers belonging to St.Stephen's Church, Elswick, with their wives and sweethearts were entertained last night to supper in the Parochial Hall, Tulloch Street, Newcastle, to celebrate their safe return from war service.

A hearty welcome was extended to them by the Vicar (the Rev. Headley W. Thomas), who referred in terms of gratitude and appreciation to their sacrifice for the country. That day, he said, was one to which those at home had longingly looked forward during the darkest hours of the war, and he assured them that the people at home fully realised that their devotion to duty had saved the nation from a fate worse than death. Sympathetically he spoke of those who had made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives for England's cause.

The Rev. F. Victor Dawson, one of the assistant clergy, and Messrs. E.W. Pyle, J. Graham and J. Dellow also spoke.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from two former vicars - the Rev. Canon Nicholson and the Rev. Henry Edwards.