|PIC1|Winton Salvationist Mary Randell has received an MBE for her work with the homeless. The caring pensioner who washes the feet of homeless people has been awarded an MBE for her services to the community in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Mrs Mary Randell, 64, is an active church member of The Salvation Army in the Winton area of Bournemouth and for 12 years has been at the front line of the international Christian church and charity's work with the homeless community in the region.

On hearing of the award, Mary responded in her typically modest manner: "I am just amazed that an honour like this would come my way and I am humbled. I love this job. It is a joy to help my friends on the street and I am blessed with an excellent team of volunteers who must share in this honour with me."

As the meal run co-ordinator, Mary takes a dedicated team of volunteers out on to the streets every Monday of the year, including bank holidays and in all kinds of weather. The team offer refreshments, clothing and feet-washing for Bournemouth's street homeless people.

Mary, who has taken a course in foot care, said: "I think this is the best job in The Salvation Army. What better way to serve the Lord? Just to be able to wash people's feet is a privilege.

"We've been doing the soup run for many years but we started regularly washing and dressing people's feet as it's such a basic need and a simple thing to do. If you are homeless you are generally walking around all day then dossing down at night with shoes and socks still firmly on your feet.

"I've peeled socks off of people's feet and revealed the most awful things and some really terribly sore feet. So we wash them as carefully and as kindly as we can. These people are our friends and they are easy to love, and the people are happy for us to do it because they trust us.

"I have to say it's one of the best things I've ever done. Years and years ago, Jesus knelt at the disciples and washed their feet: He was showing them that he was a servant as well as a king. I wouldn't be any good being posh and doing fancy things but I can wash feet and I can listen to people's stories, and I can tell them that someone cares."






Re-printed in Christian Today with the kind permission of The Salvation Army