04 Jul 2023
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This time: Dean of St Albans Cathedral Jo Kelly-Moore.
Where do you walk when you want to think?
Out in nature somewhere. We are so blessed to have Verulamium Park here in St Albans, which is my daily go to place, as well as lots of other great walking routes. Whenever I can I like to get to the coast also – walking by the sea is great thinking space.
What’s the first thing you do after you’ve woken up in the morning?
Check the time. My day starts with the service of Morning Prayer at the Cathedral at 7.30am and it is a natural reflex when I wake up to make sure I haven’t missed the alarm!
What TV did you watch as a child?
Spanning the years of childhood I watched everything from Sesame Street to The Brady Bunch, Star Trek to Basil Brush, and Little House on the Prairie to Grange Hill.
Wednesday or Saturday market?
Ooooh – tough choice! We are so blessed to have thriving markets in St Albans. I’ll vote for Wednesday. There are lots of really useful stalls and a bit more space to see them, but I love them both.
What’s your favourite meal?
Roast New Zealand lamb, with lots of wonderful vegetables and a tasty gravy to top it all and a nice New Zealand wine to wash it down. A lemon dessert of some kind would be welcome.
Dogs or cats?
Definitely dogs! When I was growing up we had two boxers who were brother and sister. Their distinctive personalities and the fun we had with them are family treasures.
Do you speak any foreign languages?
I speak French, or rather I should say I have a French degree and I give speaking French a go! I also speak some Te Reo Maori, which I would not call ‘foreign’ for me as it is indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand where I was born.
Where would be your preferred place locally to get married?
St Albans Cathedral of course! It is such a joy for us to marry people in this ancient holy place and it is an easy walk or quick drive to so many fabulous reception venues.
What was your first job?
I worked in a chocolate factory in the school holidays. The rule was staff could eat whatever they liked when on site but you had to pay, a very discounted price, for what you took home. When I started I couldn’t work out why people weren’t eating all the time – I soon found out! It took me a number of years to eat that particular chocolate again!
Most inspirational St Albans person – living or dead?
Alban! His story is amazing! A Roman citizen of this city Alban gave safe refuge to a priest, Amphibalus, who was fleeing persecution. He was an asylum seeker. Alban gave Amphibalus his Roman clothes so that the priest could escape. Two strangers became friends. Alban had also become a Christian. When challenged Alban would not tell the authorities where the priest was nor would he recant his faith, and so he was murdered. He is Britain’s first saint and martyr.
