Acknowledgments: I would like to thank my long-suffering family for their loving support. I am deeply grateful to my children, for their blessing on my writing. I am indebted to my husband John: for tirelessly enduring hours of tedious dictation, for painstakingly word-processing my hand-written manuscript. Above all I am thankful for his encouragement and unwavering belief in this work. My mother Marjorie Spencer (now in her late eighties) * continues to be my life-long listener, staunch ally and friend. Her contribution to my life is immeasurable. I am profoundly grateful for all the prayers offered for my healing; especially those of people unknown to me. I am humbled by the continuing concern for my health. Finally, I would like to thank everyone mentioned in this work for their contribution to my life and who have consented to being referred to by name. In addition, I am grateful to those who are not specifically named but nonetheless played a vital part. This of course includes the staff of the Oral and E.N.T. departments of Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. Heather M. Marshall * R.I.P. 3rd July 2008 - aged 90yrs Foreward: Safe in the Shadow is a remarkable book, the fruit of the meticulously kept diary of Heather Marshall’s life. Heather recounts, with complete honesty, the significant events of her life, from student to teacher and wife and mother. One feels privileged to be allowed to journey with her and her family, sharing the highs and lows and being humbled by the courage and determination which has enabled her to overcome many difficulties and setbacks.

The title of the book comes from a hymn based on the opening words of Psalm 91: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. In the words of the hymn, and of the psalm which inspired Timothy Dudley-Smith to write them, is found the key to Heather’s approach to life. Her faith in God and in Jesus Christ has been the rock which has been the foundation upon which her life has been built. I first met Heather, John, Charlotte and Thomas when they appeared in my congregation at St Mary’s Church, Frampton. We became friends as together we explored faith and worked together to discover what God wanted them to do in His service. Heather, as she describes in the book, developed more confidence in her abilities and gifts and was soon using them in the church and the community. Then came the shock: she was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. From that point her faith was tested to the full. Much of the book describes this traumatic time for Heather and her family but their faith remained strong and the love, prayers and support of family and friends enabled them to maintain hope throughout. Many reading this book will identify with some of Heather’s experiences. I hope they will also be inspired by her faith and receive the assurance that they, too, are safe in the shadow of the Lord. The Revd Canon Neil Russell