There was a packed schedule at Home Focus this year. There were a variety of sports on offer for the physically active, some dramatic sea baptisms, a book launch and a fantastic fireworks display to end the week.

Big take-up for sport programme
A waterlogged pitch put paid to the big football matches - but there was plenty of sporting activity at Home Focus this year, including many impromptu games of touch rugby and volleyball as well as the official tennis and (new for this year) golf tournaments.

Another hugely popular and physically demanding addition to the sporting schedule were British Military Fitness sessions led by HTB staff member and former Royal Marine, Charlie Lacey.

Sea cuts up rough for baptisms
It was full immersion to an unusual degree when four HTB members were baptised in the sea during Home Focus week.

Following a short service led by Archie Coates in front of 50 friends on the sand, the four - Nick Green, Vic Ramlaul, Heather Andrews and Laura Scale - went into the water with clergyman Andy Keighley and ordinand Graham Singh.

But as the group stood waist-high in the water, an enormous wave crashed on top of them, knocking them all underwater. After that, more waves came thick and fast. But Andy and Graham eventually managed to baptise all four.

Graham launches new book
Dr Graham Tomlin, Principal of St Paul's Theological Centre, hosted a party to launch his new book 'The Seven Deadly Sins (and How to Overcome Them)' on the Thursday of Home Focus week.

The book 'seeks to restore the idea of sin to its proper place as something to be deeply feared', examining in detail the traditional sins of pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony and sloth.

Dr Mike Lloyd, who works with Graham at the St Paul's Centre, gave a light-hearted address welcoming the book to cheers from the guests assembled in the bookshop area. The author (left) replied and then settled down to sign copies for a queue of purchasers.

Fireworks Finale
Home Focus ended with a spectacular fireworks display attended by more than 1,000 people - adults, youth and students.

At the end of Friday evening's main session, the stage was given over to a troop of drummers (below, right) who led everyone out of the ballroom and on a candlelit procession towards the cliffs overlooking the sea - joined by the various other groups. Once on the golf course, the 10-minute fireworks display lit up the sky to cheers from the crowd.