Drew Family Diaries

Politics, Elections and My Father

Recently, I compiled a post about my father Royle Drew’s involvement in politics and elections in the sixties and seventies. This drew heavily on a local newspaper archive. During my research, I came across a number of mentions of my father and I thought it might be interesting to collate these and mentions of other family members.

Grandma and Grandad: Charles Gordon and Ethel Parkin

Fundraising

In 1969, grandma held a coffee morning at their home and this raised £14 17s 6d for the Ockenden Venture, now Ockenden International. This featured in grandad’s diary although the amount recorded there was £12 14s. I assume the amount in the paper was the final amount and some more money came in after the diary entry had been made.

---

Deaths

Grandad’s death was recorded in the local press in November 1975 and grandma’s in June 1980. Both referenced each other, mum (Sheila), me (Roger) and my siblings (Patricia, Alan and Elizabeth). The notice for grandad gave his age and middle name. These details are not given for grandma. In grandad’s case, there was only a service at the crematorium, see Chapter 116, but there was also a service for grandma at the church mum attended, St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist. Both my grandparents were cremated at St Faith’s crematorium. Donations were requested for the Coeliac Society in both cases and for Cromwell House in grandma’s case. The funeral director was Peter Taylor in both cases.

---

My Father: Royle Drew

I have covered my father’s involvement in politics and elections in a separate post. That post also covered his appointment to be a magistrate in 1972. Here, I focus on other things.

Norwich Union

Dad worked for the Norwich Union for almost all of his working life including all the time he lived and worked in Norwich. Although he spent time working for the Norwich Union in London and Birmingham in the seventies, he returned to Norwich to work at Head Office. By 1985, he was Norwich Union’s marketing superintendent. In January 1985, he bought a hamper for £250 as part of the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal. The modern Children in Need Appeal was launched in 1980 with Pudsey first appearing in 1985.

---

Bar Flies Association

I am not exactly sure who this association was but it was described as a social and charitable organisation formed by bar stalwarts at the Theatre Royal. It seems it was newly-formed in 1984 by chairman, Riq Anderson, and treasurer, Bob Brister. Other activities it organised included a fun run on Mousehold Heath in January 1985, Charities supported included the Variety Club of Great Britain Sunshine Coaches, Norwich Toy Library and Cherish that Child Appeal. In 1986 and 1987, it raised money for nebulisers for doctors’ surgeries.

Stewart White

Stewart White is a fairly well-known local journalist and broadcaster having presented BBC 1’s “Look East” for 37 years from 1984. His involvement in Children in Need 1984 came right at the start of his “Look East” career,

Spiritualism

In his later life, dad embraced spiritualism and was actively engaged in Norwich Spiritualist Church. I recall going with him on a small number of occasions. It seemed pretty much like any other church except instead of a sermon they seemed to have messages from spirits. I confess to finding it a bit odd and potentially intimidating particularly as the first time I went the medium described me as the young man who looks like Cliff Richard. It was a long time ago and was definitely not what I wanted to hear then!

I don’t think dad would have ever described himself as a medium but it seems he did sometimes speak at spiritualist services/events, including in Tunstead in the late eighties. I recall he had an interest in Kirlian photography and used to do demonstrations of it at spiritualist gatherings.

---

Beacon of Light Healing Sanctuary Mill Lane Tunstead

Based on notices in the local press, the Beacon of Light Healing Sanctuary operated in Mill Lane Tunstead from at least 1983 to 1989. It seems that the sanctuary occupied a former non-conformist, possibly Methodist, chapel known as the clay chapel. My understanding is that it has since been converted to residential use.

Musical and Other Performances

Dad was involved in a range of musical and other performances.

Ad Hoc Entertainers

In the nineties, dad was part of a musical entertainment/amateur dramatics group called The Ad Hoc Entertainers. They appear to have sometimes been called just The Ad Hocs.

“Around the World in 80 Minutes or Thereabouts”

In May/June 1994, dad appeared in a show entitled “Around the World in 80 Minutes or Thereabouts“. The event made a profit of £402, of which half was donated to St Remigius Church in Hethersett.

---

Other Shows

Formed in 1990 and based in Hethersett, the Ad Hoc Entertainers featured people from both Hethersett and Wymondham. They put on a range of shows between at least 1991 and 1995 including:

• “The Boyfriend” at Wymondham High School over three days in May 1991.
• “Guys and Dolls” in Wymondham Central Hall in June 1992.
• “Call Me Madam” by Irving Berlin in Wymondham Central Hall in June 1992.
• A concert of songs and music from the wartime era in Hethersett New Village Hall in May 1995. This was to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of VE-Day.

---

They also provided musical entertainment at events including at:

• A ploughman’s supper organised by Costessey Friends of St Edmund’s Church as part of harvest celebrations in October 1991.
• A harvest supper for Hethersett Women’s Institute in November 1994.

People in Ad Hoc Entertainers

The group’s shows had a number of different producers including Roger Garrard and Wendy Nichols. In October 1993, the group advertised for new members. That same month, at their AGM, O Toppliff was appointed as chairman, Wendy Nichols as secretary, S Capper as treasurer, J Harrison as publicity and Hugh Slade as stage manager. Two concerts were proposed in November 1993. However, I have not found details of these. It is possible that some of the concerts/events that follow were conducted by the Ad Hoc Entertainers but they are not named specifically.

Other Musical Entertainment

In the nineties, dad was also involved in other musical entertainment which may or may not have been linked to the Ad Hoc Entertainers. For example, he was part of “Music for an April Evening” that was put on at Drayton Village Hall in 1994. It was compered by Norma Wick. It raised £300 for Drayton Surgery and £286.75 for Drayton Methodist Church. Two of the other people, Tony Ireland and Jimmy Skene, were also listed as members of the Ad Hoc Entertainers but,as a far as I can see, none of the others were.

---

Tony Ireland

Tony Ireland was a pianist who often appeared with dad in performances. It seems he was head of music at Thorpe Hamlet school. He encouraged his pupils to take an interest in music and the arts. He retired in 1989. Following this, he became pianist for Spixworth Variety Group and also teamed up with violinist Jimmy Skene after they met at a concert in 1991. Tony also designed a set of 22 humorous postcards entitled East Anglian Oddities.

---

Jimmy Skene

Jimmy Skene, from Aberdeen, had been a violinist for silent movies, He went to sea as a ship’s musician playing both violin and trumpet. He became a band leader on luxury liners. After retirement, he joined the Sillars Orchestra. He met Tony Ireland in 1991 when there was a joint concert between the Sillars Orchestra and the Taverham Singers for whom Tony was playing. They teamed up after that.

---

Monologues

I recall that my father loved to sing but he also enjoyed reciting comic monologues particularly those written by Marriott Edgar and made popular by Stanley Holloway. I have encountered them in researching family diaries as mum gave a recitation of “Jubilee Sov’rin” at a chapel youth concert in 1947, see Chapter 38. There was a book of these monologues among mum’s papers.

---

Dad also performed these monologues as part of musical events, for example for Drayton Good Companions Club in May 1995.

---

Other Performances with Tony Ireland and Jimmy Skene

It seems that dad quite often took part in musical events and concerts with Tony Ireland and Jimmy Skene. He contributed songs, monologues and anecdotes while Tony played the piano and Jimmy played the violin. Examples of this include for the Drayton and District branch of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section in June 1993, the Senior Residents Club at Taverham Village Hall in February and May 1995 and the Taverham afternoon WI in December 1995.

---

Wedding

Dad remarried in February 1989. We had just gone out to work in Zimbabwe, from October 1988. Sadly, it was impossible for us to return to the UK after such a short period of time which meant I missed the wedding. He married Heather Burton-Pye at Norwich Spiritualist Church which they both attended.

---

Obituary

My father died in 2011 and the local press printed quite a detailed and well-researched obituary for him. The photo with that obituary is one I took of him at Newstead Abbey the year before he died in 2010.

While it is true that he was a long-serving employee of the Norwich Union, I don’t think he was a particularly long-serving magistrate. Although he became a magistrate in 1972, I believe he had to step down the following year when he and mum split up.

Also, while dad did stand for parliament in Central Norfolk, I don’t believe he increased the Liberal vote. In 1966, there had been no Liberal candidate but, in 1964, the Liberal candidate Geoffrey Maxwell Goode received 6,961 votes as compared to dad’s 6,172 six years later.

Concerning his singing “career“, he was certainly part of the Ad Hocs in Hethersett. However, the Royles were a group he was part of in Birmingham not Norwich.

---

My Mother: Sheila Drew

I found a number of entries in the local press relating to my mother Sheila Drew. I review those here.

A Letter to the Press

Mum sometimes wrote letters to the local press. I have chosen to review most of these under particular topics. However. she wrote one, in March 1972, which was just thanking someone for being honest and for handing in her purse when she left it at Tesco’s.

---

Work

From 1977 to 1991, mum worked for the GP surgery based at 7 Newmarket Road. Originally, she was a part-time secretary/receptionist but, from 1980, she became full-time practice manager. In that role, she was responsible for recruiting a range of staff including nurses, secretaries and receptionists. From at least 1989 to 1991, she placed adverts for such positions in the local press.

---

Coeliac Society

Mum was actively involved in the Coeliac Society, now Coeliac UK, both locally and nationally.

National Vice-Chairman

Mum served as the Coeliac Society’s national vice-chairman from June 1977 to June 1980.

---

Letters to the Press

Mum wrote a number of letters to the press publicising the work of the local group of the Coeliac Society encouraging people to join.

Forming a Group

This included a letter in December 1971 when she proposed the formation of such a group, see Chapter 100. The society itself had only been founded nationally in 1968. It was not in existence when my brother Alan was first diagnosed.

---

Publicising Meetings

Mum also used letters to the press to publicise specific local society meetings, for example the AGM in 1978. Prior to that year, the AGMs had been held in our lounge. This was the first time that the meeting had been held at a bigger venue, in this case at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, see Chapter 116. Mum also used her letter to provide an update on their fundraising including news of a large figure raised by Stalham Lions.

---

Thanking Supporters

In February 1979, at the AGM of the local Coeliac group, mum retired, presumably as the group’s secretary. They gave her a silver powder compact, a lipstick, a cut glass vase and a record token. Rae Ward came to speak and there were 27 there. Following that meeting, mum wrote to the local paper thanking people for their support and encouraging them to support her successors, Paul Burgess and Jackie Aldous.

---

Information on Local Group

The local press also provided information on the local group of the Coeliac Society particularly in the form of brief reports of their meetings and other events, such as parties.

---

Dr J F P Quinton

Dr John F P Quinton spoke to a meeting of a local group of the Coeliac Society in September 1972. He was described as a consultant paediatrician at the Jenny Lind Hospital in Norwich but in other reports he was described as a paediatric surgeon. In some reports, he was described as Norfolk’s first paediatrician and he worked in that capacity from at least 1952 until he retired in 1976. He was also medical officer to the Norfolk branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust. Following retirement, he continued to perform some duties, for example speaking at various meetings and opening a new children’s unit at the Jenny Lind in 1982. By 1983, a ward at the Jenny Lind had been named after him. He was also President of the Norwich and District Past Rotarians Club retiring from that role in 1985.

---

Miss A G Capon

Miss A G Capon also took part in the meeting of the local Coeliac Society group in September 1972 answering questions with Dr Quinton. She was chief group dietician for the Norwich hospitals at the time. In July 1974, she was elected to the committee of the Norfolk and Norwich branch of the British Diabetes Association, now Diabetes UK. In June 1971, she spoke at a meeting of that association and emphasised the advantage of reducing carbohydrate intake.

---

Fundraising

Mum was involved in fundraising for the Coeliac Society and sometimes these efforts were reported in the local press particularly when other organisations were involved and/or the amounts involved were large. In May 1977, mum went to Boundary, the junction of Boundary Road, Reepham Road, Cromer Road, Mile Cross Lane and Aylsham Road, at 8.45 am to see Mr Lines of Wroxham and other Stalham Lions off in a sponsored walk to Cromer, a distance of about 22 miles, to raise money for “Coeliacs”. They raised £505. On 1 July 1977, mum went with Heather Ferguson to the Broads Hotel in Wroxham to receive the cheque, see Chapter 116.

---

Lions Club

Lions Clubs International supports small-scale humanitarian and philanthropic projects. It consists of 46,000 local clubs with 1.4m members. It was established in Chicago in 1917.

Stalham Lions

Stalham Lions Club was established and held its inaugural meeting in June 1974.

Their first president was Bob Knights. It seems that presidents held the office for one year. Other presidents have included Alex Alexander, Ray Gates, Stan Todd, Dave Avis, Michael Lines, Steve Harris, Graham Bird, David Cove, Bob Ray and Alan Yates. They established a Leo club for young people in May 1976.

Stalham Lions had fundraising events such as musical performances/festivals; sponsored events, including pony rides and looping the loop in a glider; fetes; carnivals; open gardens; coffee mornings; car boot sales; auctions; markets and the North Norfolk and Norwich Horse Show. They also received donations.

---

Funds were used to support a range of good causes including St John’s Ambulance, Break Children’s Home, Burlingham Home, Jenny Lind Ward/Hospital, guide dogs for the blind and various schools. The Stalham Lions also held other meetings, for example to celebrate their anniversaries from 1975 to 1977 and again in 1981.

They also helped in practical ways, for example, following storms and floods at Walcott, by organising a Christmas party for elderly people in the Stalham area, by providing reflective discs to children and by providing a 12-seater coach for community use which was able to accommodate four wheelchairs.

While, in general, Stalham Lions’ fundraising events were generally successful, they had to cancel a charity auction in May 1987 when only eight people turned up. They continued to operate until at least 1995.

Michael Lines

Michael Lines led the Stalham Lions sponsored walk from Norwich to Cromer which raised over £500 for the Coeliac Society in May 1977. He worked as an instructor at the East Anglian Industrial Training Centre in Hurricane Way, Norwich. He was the president of Stalham Lions in 1982-83. In November 1982, he did a sponsored loop-the-loop in a glider despite suffering from vertigo and claustrophobia!

Alan Yates

In July 1977, Alan Yates presented the cheque from Stalham Lions for the Coeliac Society to mum. He was a carpentry master at Stalham High School. At the time of presenting the cheque, he was deputy district governor of the Lions International. He had been elected secretary of Stalham Lions in July 1976. Also, he was president of the Federation of Professional Toastmasters. He died suddenly in April 1989.

Church

Mum was active in Methodist Churches in Norwich, particularly Mile Cross Methodist Church and St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, from the time we moved to the city in 1960. Sometimes, the local press covered issues of relevance to that involvement.

Problems Surgery: A Letter

In October 1968, mum wrote to the local press on the topic of “problems surgery“. She was referring to an earlier report that Rev Arnold V Page had opened a “surgery for problems“. Mum commented that this was not new and that Rev Michael W Parker had operated this at Belvoir Street Church for two years.

---

The Original Article

As mum noted, the original article featured in the EDP the previous Friday. It explained that Methodist Minister Arnold V Page, of the North Walsham and Aylsham circuit was running weekly surgeries for people with problems, at two of his churches – Corpusty on Saturday afternoons and Marsham on Tuesday evening. Example of the types of problems that could be discussed included anxieties and worries, illnesses, relationships, work, personalities, bodies and moods.

---

Criticism

However, not everyone was happy with mum’s input on the topic! In a letter published a week after mum’s, on 14 October 1968, R G Warnes commented that he found the letter unnecessary as he considered that all Ministers offered a similar service and that probably all Christians, or at least those with a real experience of Jesus Christ, would be able to do the same.

A Little Odd

I confess that I find this letter a little odd. I can understand why someone might have reacted to mum’s letter as I found her tone a bit negative saying that Rev Page’s idea was not new. However, if he felt that having a specific timed surgery for people to come with problems was not needed, I would have thought his beef would have been with the original article rather than with mum’s letter!

Specific Surgeries at Particular Times

I think his letter overlooks what was distinctive about Rev Page’s approach which was offering people surgeries at particular times to discuss problems. I am not sure if this was a good idea or not. It would be interesting to know what the take-up was. I don’t think that Rev Page or mum were suggesting that such surgeries would replace the normal pastoral duties carried out by most, if not all, Ministers which seems to be what R G Warnes was referring to.

Mum’s Involvement with Belvoir Street Church

He also seems to have assumed that mum was referring to Rev Parker because he was her Minister. I doubt that was the case. Yes, she had started to attend his Belvoir Street church at around that time but I suspect this was because she was drawn to his approach to problem-solving and healing which I think she would have found attractive. If she had simply been defending/promoting her Minister, as R G Warnes suggests, I think she would have been more likely to have referred to one or more Ministers at Mile Cross Methodist Church which she had been attending since 1960.

---

Arnold V Page

Arnold V Page was a Methodist Minister in Aylsham from 1968 to 1971 when he moved to Somerset. He was based there until at least 1975 and then he moved to Bentham in North Yorkshire. His appointment in Aylsham had been his first having previously studied mechanical engineering in Bristol before gaining a BD from Richmond Theological College. At the time of his appointment to Aylsham, he was described as a Queen’s Scout who enjoyed climbing and camping. He also played piano and cello.

Corpusty Methodist Church

Corpusty, one of two places where Rev Page established his surgeries, is a Norfolk village about six miles north west of Aylsham. The first Primitive Methodist chapel in Corpusty opened around 1830 with a new chapel being built in 1859. This was enlarged in 1911. By 2015, it was closed and in use as a residence.

---

Marsham Methodist Church

Marsham, one of two places where Rev Page established his surgeries, is a Norfolk village about two miles south of Aylsham. A Primitive Methodist chapel opened in Marsham in 1881. However, by 2015, it had closed and was in use for residential purposes.

---

Rev Michael Parker

In Family Diaries

Rev Michael Parker is mentioned a number of times in family diaries, see Chapter 90. At Christmas 1968, mum delivered some parcels for him. She also used his slide projector and dropped him at a conference when she was on her way to St Leonard’s. He himself used the projector to show slides of the USA and Palestine in December 1968. Grandma knew him and he came to grandma and grandad’s for tea on a number of occasions including Boxing Day 1968. He spoke at Drayton Methodist Church including to the women’s meeting held there.

---

Wesleyan Reform Minister

According to local news archives, Rev Michael Wynne Parker became Minister at Belvoir Street Wesleyan Reform Church in June 1966. He was described as a young Minister who came from Bakewell and who had been inducted into the Order of St Luke the Physician. From around that time, he was often listed as speaker at that church.

---

Healing Ministry

However, he stepped down from the Wesleyan Reform Church in 1971. He became warden of the Order of St Luke and founded the Norfolk and Norwich Healing and Counselling Centre/Norfolk and Norwich Healing Trust. By 1972, the Healing Trust was taking up most of his time. I believe this Trust was the forerunner of the St Barnabas Centre established in 1974, see Chapter 114. However, Michael Parker separated from the Trust in March 1973.

---

A Remarkable Transformation

From 1973, he underwent a remarkable transformation formally adopting his middle name as part of the double-barrelled surname Wynne-Parker. He stood unsuccessfully as a Conservative candidate in local elections becoming chairman of the Norwich Conservative Candidates Committee and other bodies such as the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding and the English Speaking Union. Subsequently, he branded himself as an international businessman and corporate intermediary, establishing the firm Introcom International. He embedded himself in a number of elite circles earning himself the name of “The Man with the Golden Address Book“. The biography on his website emphasises this latter part of his life and does not mention his earlier religious and spiritual experiences.

---

Fall From Grace?

Most recently, he has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny, culminating, in 2024, in a 12-year disqualification by the UK Charity Commission following financial misconduct investigations into royal cash-for-access allegations. In 1989/90, he was fined £10,000 and banned from giving investment advice. However, he responded to this with astonishment saying he had resigned from the professional body in question months earlier because the financial side of his business was very small. He noted that his main business was property holdings.

I am not sure the extent to which these issues have affected his business and profile. Certainly, some members of the royal family, such as Prince Michael of Kent, have faced criticism because of being closely associated with him. Nevertheless, the news page of Michael Wynne-Parker’s website shows multiple activities in 2025 although none to date in 2026. However, he was born in November 1945 so would now be 80 so well past retirement age.

Belvoir Street Chapel

Belvoir Street Wesley Reform Church operated from 1869 until 1988 when the site was redeveloped into a residential area known appropriately as Charles Wesley court. The Wesleyan Reform Union is still in existence and is described as an independent Methodist connexion. It was established in 1859 by a group of reformers who had been expelled from the Wesleyan Methodist church and who did not join the United Methodist Free Churches. The main difference between the Wesleyan Reform Union and the Methodist church was that churches in the Wesleyan Reform Union were self-governing. 

---

Mum Sometimes Attended

Mum sometimes attended this church from the late sixties, see Chapter 90. The first mention of this was in June 1968 when grandad noted that grandma went there with mum in the evening, although he referred to it as Bethel Street. Grandma went there again with mum in both August and September in 1968 and on various occasions in 1969. Amy and Auntie Dolly also went with them on separate occasions. In September 1968, grandad noted that Tom took grandma and Amy to Belvoir Street where mum “was made a member (or something like that)”. Other people who went to Belvoir Street on occasions with mum included Miss Walker, Mrs Smith and Mrs Noble. Auntie Dolly went with mum on a number of occasions.

I Don’t Think We Belonged There as a Family

I have some recollections of mum going to services and activities at Belvoir Street but, as far as I recall, we did not go there as a family. Consequently, I don’t think we ever “belonged” there in the same way as we did at Mile Cross or later at Park Lane. Some of us did have some involvement there. For example, Tricia played the recorder there with other girls in February 1969 and, in May 1969, dad went to an evening service. But, it was mum who was mainly involved there. On 17 May 1969, she attended a healing service there and, the following day, while dad and the four of us went to grandma and grandad’s for tea, mum stayed at Belvoir Street for her tea.

I confess that I don’t fully understand mum’s involvement in Belvoir Street church. It may be that it indicates a dissatisfaction with Mile Cross Methodist Church which could be implied from elsewhere in the diaries, see Chapter 79. But, if that were the case, I don’t really understand why we did not move to Belvoir Street as a family. Perhaps it was part of the growing distance between mum and dad with mum building a circle of friends and church contacts separate from those she had with dad. Perhaps mum was seeking a different spiritual experience and understanding from what she could find in mainstream Methodism. I don’t know if any of this was linked to her mental health struggles at the time, see Chapter 88.

R G Warnes

I have not really found out any more about R G Warnes who wrote criticising mum’s letter except that he lived in Hubbard Close in Wymondham. I wondered if he was perhaps a prolific writer of letters to the press but this letter was the only one I was able to locate.

Gwen Hart and Iona

During this period, one of mum’s friends mentioned by grandad was Gwen Hart. She was an artist and grandad noted that she had done a very good pencil sketch of mum. In August 1968, grandad noted that Gwen had an exhibition at the Assembly Rooms, see Chapter 83. Grandma went to this exhibition with Edna Bust. I don’t know if Gwen was involved with the Belvoir Street church but, in June 1969, grandad noted that mum and Gwen went on holiday to Iona, a place also of particular significance to Rev Michael Parker, the Minister at Belvoir Street Chapel at that time. I have vague recollections of Gwen and think I do recall her exhibition at the Assembly Rooms. At that time, I would have been eight.

Local Preacher

From at least January 1990 to February 1996, I found multiple references to mum taking church services and initially I assumed this was in her capacity as a local preacher. Churches she spoke at included Bawburgh, Chapelfield Road, Heartsease Lane, St Peter’s Park Lane, White Woman Lane and Wroxham Road.

However, some of these may have been during her training to become a local preacher as she noted that she took her trial service at Framingham Earl in May 1991. The three people who heard her were Michael Baybutt, Rev Charles Banks and possibly Marjorie Latten. A number of people went with her to support her including Kath Jones. Mum was formally accredited as a local preacher at a service at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church in June 1991. Mum noted that there were about 100 people there and it was a lovely service.

---

Michael Baybutt

Michael Baybutt was one of three people who heard mum’s trial service in May 1991. He himself appears as a speaker on notices of local services from at least 1988 to 1993 so presumably he too was a local preacher. In 1989, he was a circuit steward in Norwich and, in 1990, he was identified as coming from Framingham Earl. It seems, he was part of Diadem as he was listed as a soloist, alongside mum, when they performed at Great Hockham in September 1993. He appears to have been a hospital manager in the late eighties and nineties.

---

Rev Charles Banks

Rev Charles Banks was one of three people who heard mum’s trial service in May 1991. He was a retired Methodist Minister who was based in Norwich from at least 1987 to 2004. He first entered the Methodist ministry in 1947. His father was a Methodist Minister in Yarmouth and Norwich. He himself attended Yarmouth Grammar School. Before retiring to Norwich, he held ministerial positions in Bristol, Dorchester, Worcester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Glasgow Interestingly perhaps, in November 1993, he wrote a humorous letter to the press supporting the introduction of dedicated bike and bus lanes.

---

Marjorie Latten

The surname of the third person who heard mum’s trial service in May 1991 is not very clear. It could be Marjorie Latter or Latten. I have not as yet found out any more details about her.

Luncheon Club

In February 1993, mum was the speaker at the Methodist Senior Luncheon Club. She spoke, in her capacity as a local preacher, on her experiences of studying at Cliff College.

---

“Pause for Thought“

In February and March 1989, mum contributed a “Pause for Thought” at 7.45 am on Radio Norfolk. She was introduced as a circuit steward as this was before she became a local preacher.

---

Studying at Cliff College

In September 1991, mum went for a year to study at Cliff College in Derbyshire. In an article in the local press, she explained that in 1988 she had gone to the first Easter People, a Methodist evangelical gathering, with Maureen Kemp, a friend who was a lay reader in the Anglican church. She noted that this had changed her life and, the following year, she felt called to become a local preacher. She had been encouraged to consider this by Rev Al Loades who had heard her speak on the radio about Women’s World Day of Prayer.

In 1989, mum went again to Easter People and responded to a call for local preachers. She began studying and took four exams in just over a year with encouragement from Rev Chris and Mrs Marian Sharp. The idea of going to Cliff College came over Spring Bank Holiday in 1990. She spoke to the principal, the Rev Bill Davies, thinking she would be considered too old as she was 56 at this point. On the contrary, he was very encouraging as was District Chairman, Rev Dick Jones, and the Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane, Rev Elizabeth Bellamy. Mum applied, was accepted and gave up her job as practice manager at the Newmarket Road surgery, see Chapter 121.

---

Cliff College

Family diaries recorded that mum had visited Cliff College in August 1957. Cliff College provides theological education and training with a focus on mission and evangelism. Historically, it was a Methodist Lay Training College but now serves most Christian denominations with its training..

Cliff College was founded by Thomas Champness in Bolton in 1883. Originally located in his home, it later moved to Castleton Hall at Rochdale. When that lease expired, the Wesleyan Methodist church took it over and moved it to its current location in 1904.

---

Mum’s Experience at Cliff College

I found multiple copies of the three postcards of Cliff College featured above among mum’s papers after she died. Mum continued to be involved with Cliff College after the year she spent there and there are photos of various events and reunions she attended among her albums. So far, I have only found one page of photos from her year at Cliff College. It features people she met there and is sadly unlabelled! She also kept her diary during the time she was there although the entries were very limited and, to date, I have only read them through briefly.

---

Easter People

Easter People was a Christian conference that operated for 20 years from 1988 to 2007. Established by Rob Frost, it was originally envisaged as a one-off event in 1988 to promote personal renewal and growth of Christian faith and renewal in the Methodist Church. It was held at Camber Sands, the Pontins holiday camp near Rye in Sussex. Rev Dr Donald English, see Chapter 124, led the Bible Studies on the Four Alls of Methodism, namely All need to be saved; All can be saved; All can know they are saved; and All can be saved to the uttermost. Over 900 people attended and it was decided to hold the event the following year when 1,200 people attended.

Continuing Annually

As a result, it was decided that the event should continue annually. However, it had outgrown the holiday camp. So, subsequently, it was held in towns which could provide a conference centre, churches as alternate venues and a good range of accommodation. Towns which hosted Easter People include Llandudno, Torquay, Scarborough, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Southport. Throughout its life, Rob Frost acted as overall director. From 2000, when more than 10,000 people attended, the event was held simultaneously in three towns across the country. The final Easter People was held in Blackpool in 2007.

The End

I am note sure why Easter People ended. Officially, it marked a shift in strategy away from a “holy huddle” into the heart of the country’s secular capital. This was reflected in plans to have a larger Pentecost Festival in London in 2008. Sadly, Rob Frost died in 2007 but the festival did go ahead under the leadership of his family, friends and Share Jesus International, led by Rob Frost’s son Andy Frost.

Sceptical

However, I am sceptical that this official strategic story was the whole picture. While numbers were holding steady or increasing, the demographic, in keeping with that of the Methodist church, was changing and aging. In addition, Easter People had relied heavily on Rob Frost himself. He was known to be ill with terminal skin cancer and it was thought that the event might not survive without him.

Mum’s Attendances

I don’t know how many times mum went to Easter People in addition to the two times mentioned in the news article above. I believe it was multiple times. She certainly went in 2000 when it was held in Bournemouth as there are many photos from that trip in one of her albums.

---

Maureen Kemp

Maureen Kemp was a good friend of mum’s. I am not exactly sure how they knew each other as Maureen was a reader in the Church of England. Nevertheless, they were firm friends and did many things together including going to Easter People over multiple years, for example in 1988 and again in 2000. I recall Maureen. Sadly, I think she contracted motor neuron disease and predeceased mum having moved to Stowmarket to be closer to her son. Perhaps surprisingly, given she was a reader in the Anglican church, I have not found anything more about her in a local newspaper archive.

---

Rev Al Loades

Rev Alfred (Al) Loades was a Norwich circuit Minister. He heard mum speaking on the radio and encouraged her to consider becoming a local preacher. Born in Holt, he studied at Richmond College from 1957 to 1960. He was an industrial chaplain and then a military chaplain before serving in Beccles for eight years. He was based in Norwich for 11 years from 1980 to 1991, mainly at Mile Cross Methodist Church. During that time, he was also part-time Free Church Chaplain at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. After his time in Norwich, he moved on to be superintendent Minister of the Yarmouth and Gorleston circuit.

Rev Chris and Mrs Marian Sharp

Chris and Marian Sharp were identified as people who encouraged mum with her studies to become a local preacher.

Rev Chris Sharp

Chris Sharp first came to Norwich in 1951 as his father, Rev John Richard Sharp, was a Methodist, previously Wesleyan, Minister. Chris worked for the Norwich Union before training as a Methodist Minister from 1976. He worked in County Durham before he was Minister at Rosebery Road from at least 1984 to 1989. He then took a three-month sabbatical before becoming Minister at Wroxham Road for an interim period. From 1991 until at least 1996, he was superintendent Minister in the North Walsham circuit. He was behind the launch of the Carpenter’s Arms, an alcohol-free bar, which opened in North Walsham in 1994. I am not sure how long it stayed open but it is now The Peasants’ Tavern.

---

Marian Sharp

Chris met his wife Marian at Cromer Methodist Youth Club and they married in 1967. In 1995, she was chairing the Carpenter’s Arms organising committee. She also spoke to organisations about the project, e.g. to North Walsham Toc H in April 1994. That same year, in June, she was listed as a person to contact for those interested in volunteering at the Carpenter’s Arms. She had also been active when they were at Rosebery Road, for example, organising a sew-in in November 1984.

---

Bill Davies

Rev William (Bill) Rhys Davies, born in 1932, was Principal of Cliff College from 1983 to 1994 and President of the Methodist Conference in 1987. He was known as a Bible teacher and preacher, speaking at major events, such as Easter People. Also, he was a leader within Dunamis which brought the charismatic movement into Methodist circles. He died in 2024.

---

Dick and Kath Jones

Rev Richard (Dick) Granville Jones was another person who encouraged mum to study at Cliff College in 1991-2. At that time, he was Chairman of the East Anglia Methodist District, a role he held from 1983, having spent a year in charge of eight churches in the Holt area. He came there from Manchester where he had been a tutor in a Methodist training college for eight years. In 1988, he was President of the Methodist Conference. He continued as Chairman of the District until at least 1993. Mum was close to both Dick and his wife Kath.

---

Kath Jones

In 1990, Kath Jones organised the East Anglian contribution to making a banner for Soweto Day that was expected to be a mile long. She herself was commissioned as a local preacher in September 1990 and she took services in her own right in addition to speaking at a range of women’s events. In 1985, she was inducted as District President of Women’s Work and Women’s Fellowship. In 1992, she led the anniversary at Holt Methodist Church with her daughter Hilary.

---

Elizabeth Bellamy

Another person who encouraged mum in her local preacher studies was Rev Elizabeth Bellamy who was Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane at that time. She appears to have been based there from at least 1989 to 1995. Prior to her time in Norwich, she was a Minister in the Wells and Fakenham circuit. Afterwards, in September 1995, she moved to Ipswich. However, she may have suffered from ill-health while in Norwich and, at one point, was said to have taken early retirement. Originally, she was from Norwich and, in 1973, was the first East Anglian woman to start training for the Methodist ministry.

---

Diadem

In the nineties, mum was active in a choir called Diadem which was also sometimes known as the Diadem Choir or the Diadem Singers.

The Origin of the Name

While diadem means a jewelled headband or crown, the name was taken, after much deliberation, from the name of James Ellor’s tune to the hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesu’s Name“. I am not sure why! It seems a little obscure to me! However, the name of the hymn tune is very well-known in Christian circles and the link between the choir name and the hymn tune name might have been more apparent to a church audience of the time than it is to me! Apparently, it is not uncommon for Christian choirs to take their name from a hymn tune title.

From Rosebery Road

Formed in 1985 at Rosebery Road Methodist Church, the choir expanded with members being drawn from a number of churches across Norwich and beyond. The choir was led and conducted by Alec James. Apparently, they usually practised twice per month at Rosebery Road and Chapelfield Road Methodist churches.

Diadem Performed in Many Churches

In September 1993, when they visited Great Hockham Methodist Chapel, mum was one of the soloists. I found press records of their performance between 1991 and 1995 in various places particularly in Methodist churches including in Ashill, Caister, Cawston, Drayton, East Harling, Garboldisham, Great Ellingham, Hempnall, Lessingham, Lingwood, Long Stratton, North Walsham, Potter Heigham, Rosebery Road, Spixworth, Trinity (Dereham), Trunch, Watton and West Raynham. They also sometimes performed in churches of other denominations, for example, in Acle St Edmund Church and Shelfanger Parish Church. In November 1995, they celebrated their tenth anniversary at St Mary’s Duke Street Baptist Church in Norwich by presenting “An Evening with Sankey“. Apparently, over the years, they had sung at 60-70 different churches.

---

Canada

Diadem, and mum’s involvement in it, continued well beyond 1995 into the new millennium. In March 1999, they gave a concert at Silver Road Baptist Church. In March 2000, the following year, they held a sponsor day at Wroxham Road Methodist Church at which they performed over a 12-hour period!. From this, I think they raised more than £900 which was to be used towards the cost of the choir’s trip to Canada in Autumn 2000. They had been invited to Winnipeg by a former choir member who had moved there as a church Minister.

---

Great Hockham Methodist Church

Great Hockham Primitive Methodist Chapel opened in 1862 and was enlarged in 1896. It was reopened and rededicated after restoration in November 1959. However, it closed as a place of worship before 2015. It is located on Watton Road and, as of 2024, still had a sign saying Methodist Church, above the door. Great Hockham is a Norfolk village between Thetford and Norwich.

Ashill Methodist Church

Ashill Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. A Primitive Methodist Chapel in Church Street opened in 1833 but this was later replaced by a church in Hale Road. This was refurbished in 1985. There is an interesting history of these churches here including some photos. In 2001, Ashill church was featured as one of five churches in a report to the Methodist Conference on “The Future of the Rural Church“. However, the church appears to have closed sometime between 2001 and 2010. The building was converted to residential use. Ashill is a Norfolk village between Watton and Swaffham.

Caister Methodist Church

Caister Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It remains in operation within the Norfolk Broads Circuit, located on Beach Road. It appears there were at least two Methodist chapels in Caister. A Primitive Methodist Chapel opened in 1865 but apparently closed in 1979. There was also a Wesleyan chapel and it is this that became the current Methodist church. Caister-on-Sea is a large Norfolk village near Yarmouth.

---

Cawston Methodist Church

Cawston Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. There were two Methodist chapels in Cawston. The Primitive Methodist chapel on Norwich Road opened in 1861 and was extended in 1954. However, it closed around 2012. The building was sold and converted to residential use. The Wesleyan chapel on Chapel Street opened in the early nineteenth century but then joined the Wesleyan Reform Union. However, it closed in 2006. Interesting aspects of its history are available here. The building is now home to Resonant Strings, makers and restorers of stringed instruments. As of 2026, Cawston Methodist Church was operating as a class of Reepham Methodist Church, meeting jointly with the Wesleyan Reform Union congregation in the residents’ lounge of retirement housing complex Jubilee Close. Cawston is a Norfolk village near Aylsham.

East Harling Methodist Church

East Harling Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in White Hart Street and remains in operation within the Thetford, Diss and Mildenhall circuit. It originated as a Primitive Methodist chapel in 1865. Prior to that, it seems there had been an earlier chapel on the same site that had originally been Wesleyan but had then been taken on by the Primitive Methodists. East Harling is a Norfolk village about eight miles east of Thetford.

Garboldisham Methodist Church

Garboldisham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It was located on Hopton Road but closed in early 2023. Originally, it was a Primitive Methodist Chapel, opened in 1893. It was still in operation until at least 2015. Garboldisham is a Norfolk village near Diss.

---

Great Ellingham Methodist Church

Great Ellingham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. Located in Church Street, it originated as a Primitive Methodist chapel in 1845. Electric light was installed in 1936. Apparently, it closed in June 2025. Great Ellingham is a Norfolk village near Attleborough.

---

Hempnall Methodist Church

Hempnall Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. Apparently, there were two Methodist chapels in Hempnall. A Primitive Methodist chapel was established on Alburgh Road in 1837 but closed prior to 1978. A Wesleyan chapel opened on Mill Road in the mid-nineteenth century but it closed in 2013. It was sold and the building converted for residential use. Hempnall is a village in Norfolk about eight miles south of Norwich.

---

Lessingham Methodist Church

Lessingham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in Ingham Road and remains in operation within the North Norfolk circuit. It opened in 1891 as a Primitive Methodist chapel replacing an earlier chapel founded in 1843. Lessingham is a village in North Norfolk between Happisburgh and Sea Palling.

---

Long Stratton Methodist Church

Long Stratton Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. Founded as a Wesleyan chapel in 1830, it was used until the nineties when a new church was built in Manor Road. That has also since closed. The original chapel was converted to residential use whereas the newer chapel was bought by the council for community use. Long Stratton is a Norfolk town halfway between Norwich and Diss.

North Walsham Methodist Church

North Walsham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in Grammar School Road and remains in operation within the North Norfolk circuit. There were two Methodist chapels in North Walsham. A Primitive Methodist chapel was established in 1827 and expanded in 1862. A new chapel was built in 1890 which is the current building. This was expanded in 1987. From photos, it looks as if both the original and new chapels may still be standing. There was also a Wesleyan chapel in North Walsham. North Walsham is a Norfolk town between Norwich and Cromer.

---

Potter Heigham Methodist Church

Potter Heigham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in Green Lane and remains in operation within the Norfolk Broads circuit. Originally, there was a Primitive Methodist chapel in Potter Heigham on Chapel Lane. This opened in 1864. However, in the late seventies/early eighties, the present chapel was built on Green Lane. The old chapel closed and was later demolished. There are signs of its presence in some place names, e.g. Chapel Lane and Chapel Farm. Potter Heigham is a Norfolk village 12 miles north east of Norwich. It is known for its medieval bridge.

Spixworth Methodist Church

Spixworth Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. The history of Spixworth Methodist Church is described in the book edited by Norma Virgoe and Albert Ward called “Through Cloud and Sunshine: The History of the Norwich Methodist Circuits Churches and Chapels”. Evening services and a Sunday School were started in a cottage in Spixworth in October 1935. Subsequently, the church met in a wooden shed and in a sectional building bought from the West Norwich Hospital. A purpose-built church opened on Godfrey Road in January 1999. However, the church closed in September 2022 and, in October 2022, the building was put up for sale. Spixworth is a Norfolk village about five miles north of Norwich.

Trunch Methodist Church

Trunch Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in North Walsham Road and remains in operation within the North Norfolk circuit. A website about the history of Trunch has an interesting page on non-conformism. It gives details of two Methodist chapels, one was Primitive Methodist and the other Wesleyan. The Primitive Methodist chapel was constructed in the 1850s. It was enlarged in 1891 but closed in 1937 when the new Methodist Church opened. It has been used as a garage and house. The Wesleyan chapel was built in 1827 and ceased operations in 1937 when the new Methodist Church opened. It was used by the home guard during the second world war but was subsequently demolished. Trunch is a Norfolk village between North Walsham and Mundesley.

---

Watton Methodist Church

Watton Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is located in High Street and remains in operation within the Central Norfolk circuit. The church’s website has a section for its 95th anniversary in July 2022 and this covers some of the church’s history including that the church opened in July 1927. This was built next to an earlier Primitive Methodist chapel which opened in 1863. A schoolroom was added in 1874 and this is now used as a community centre. The newer chapel was also under the Primitive Methodists until Methodist Union in 1932. Watton is a Norfolk market town between Norwich and Thetford.

---

West Raynham Methodist Church

West Raynham Methodist Church was one of the many Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. Located on Hollow Lane, it was originally a Wesleyan chapel, founded in 1875. It has since closed and may have been developed for residential use but it seems that it is currently unused. West Raynham is a Norfolk village close to Fakenham.

Acle St Edmund Church

Acle St Edmund Church was one of a few non-Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. It is known for its 12^th century Norman round tower, its 15^th century font and rood screen and some 14^th century graffiti related to the black death. Acle is a market town between Norwich and Yarmouth.

---

Shelfanger Parish Church

Shelfanger Parish Church, also known as Shelfanger All Saints, was one of a few non-Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. The building originates from the 13^th and 14^th centuries and features a timber porch and a rectangular tower. Shelfanger is a small village just outside Diss.

---

St Mary’s Duke Street Baptist Church

In November 1995, Diadem celebrated their tenth anniversary at St Mary’s Duke Street Baptist Church in Norwich by presenting “An Evening with Sankey“. The church has a history dating back to the 18^th century. It has several structural iterations. An 1812 meeting house was destroyed in the second world war and the rebuilt church reopened in 1952. In 2003, the church was renamed as Norwich Central Baptist Church following merger with Dereham Road and Mile Cross Baptist Churches.

---

Silver Road Baptist Church

Silver Road Baptist Church was one of a few non-Methodist churches at which Diadem performed. The church, built in 1910, is a good example of the ecclesiastical village, popular at the time, which consisted of a series of interconnected halls and other buildings. Services ceased there in 2017 and, since then, the building has been put to a number of uses including as a meeting place for the Pentecostal Revival Chapel and a Portuguese-speaking church, as an office base for Norwich Youth for Christ, as home to the Norwich Community Gospel Choir and as the Mousehold Hub of Norwich Central Baptist Church.

---

Trevor Hutchins

In 2000, mum went with Diadem on a trip to Canada at the invitation of Trevor Hutchins who had been a member of the choir and of Coltishall Methodist Church before becoming pastor of a Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. Born in Norwich in 1953, he had worked as a social services worker/administrator for Norfolk County Council and had been a local preacher in Norwich Methodist circuit. In 1988, he studied at Capenwray Bible College before going to study for a theology degree over three years at the Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, now part of the Canadian Mennonite University. He was a student pastor at Home Street Church and gained a masters in theology from Providence Theological Seminary. Then, he helped plant Good News Mennonite Church and pastored there for eight years before becoming care pastor at Riverwood Church Community. He worked there for ten years before his health declined. He died in Canada in 2023.

---

Drama Group

From 1977, mum was also involved in rehearsals for a drama group at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. They started performing plays from 1978 and these were often advertised and reviewed in the local press, for example, “Holy Week” in April 1978, “The Bathroom Door” in September 1978, “Bonaventure” in April 1979 and two one-act plays “The Outpatients” and “A Family Affair” in November 1979, see Chapter 124.

---

“Christ in the Concrete City“

The following year, in April 1980, mum was in a modern play about the crucifixion called “Christ in the Concrete City“. Others involved included Hilda Crowe, John Ferguson, Marlys Gaskill, Peter Lemmon and Edwin Mills. The play was directed by Margaret Partner and was performed at St Peter’s and in Loddon.

---

“An Evening of Comedy”

In November 1981, the group gave a very different performance entitled “An Evening of Comedy“. This was described as finishing a busy 1981 programme which included a performance of “The Orchard Walls” in addition to “a play “The Paternoster Play” written specifically for the 1981 Methodist Conference, which took place in Norwich. The evening of comedy was structured as two one-act plays and two curtain-raiser sketches. These appear to have included “World Without Men” by Philip Johnson, “The Best Policy” by Len Sugden, “Thirty Years On” and “Bread of Heaven” by Rae Shirley. All were considered “in light vein” which contrasted sharply with “The Paternoster Play” specifically written by Len Sugden for the Methodist Conference earlier in the year.

Those appearing in the plays in November included mum (“World Without Men“), Janet Bennett (“World Without Men“), Martin Comber (“The Best Policy“), Thelma Cooke (Bread of Heaven“), Hilda Crowe (“World Without Men“), John Ferguson (“The Best Policy“), Marlys Gaskill (“World Without Men“), Babs Harvey (Bread of Heaven“), Kathleen Haworth (Bread of Heaven“), David Mackley (“The Best Policy“), Percy Newton (Bread of Heaven“), Margaret Partner (Thirty Years On“), Edward Peters (Bread of Heaven“), Susan Peters (“World Without Men“), June Rose (“World Without Men“), Len Sugden (Thirty Years On“) and Caroline Wright (Bread of Heaven“). “World Without Men” was produced by Betty Dutton, who was wardrobe mistress at the Maddermarket. Kath Haworth (misspelled as Howarth) was responsible for “this happy production” and I assume this is referring to the production overall. Stage management, lighting and effects were handled by Wilfred Harvey, Gerald Cooke, Andrew Wright and Peter Finnemore.

---

The Curious Savage

At the end of March 1984, St Peter’s Drama Group presented John Patrick’s play “The Curious Savage“. The role of leading lady was played by Kathleen Haworth. Other cast members included mum, John Ferguson, Marlys Gaskill, Alison Hale, Babs Harvey, David Mackley, Jack Shorten, Leonard Sugden, Andrew Summerhayes, and Caroline Wright. The producer was Eric Buxton assisted by Margaret Partner.

---

Other Productions

Based on information in the local press archive. St Peter’s Drama Group was active between at least 1978 and 1993. Other productions they put on during that period include the following. Currently, I don’t know if mum was in any of these as I have not fully reviewed her diaries from 1980 onwards. Her 1983 diary noted that she saw the play “Scarlet Ribbon” but was not in it.

• “The Orchard Walls” in March 1981
• “The Paternoster Play” in June 1981. This play was written by Leonard Sugden specifically for the Methodist Conference
• “The Devil’s Limelight“, “The Panic” adapted by S M Du Pre from Mrs Gaskell’s “Cranford” and “There’s Always Spring” in November 1982. I understand that “The Panic” might have been one of the “Scenes from Cranford” adapted by S M Du Pre
• “Scarlet Ribbon” in December 1983
• “Don’t Utter a Note” in November 1984
• “Lloyd George Knew My Father” in April 1985
• “Who Lies There?” by Philip Johnson in November 1991
• “Brush with a Body” by Maurice McLaughlin in April 1992
• “Death and the Maiden” in December 1992
• “The Understanding“, a love story, by Angela Huth in November 1993

---

Group Members

Quite a number of cast members and others are identified in the newspaper articles above.

People I Recognise

Many are names I recognise and/or people I recall as friends of mum’s from St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see for example, Chapter 124. They include Janet Bennett, Eric Buxton, Gerald Cooke, Thelma Cooke, Hilda Crowe, John Ferguson, Peter Finnemore, Babs Harvey, Wilfred Harvey, Kathleen Haworth, Peter Lemmon, Margaret Partner, Leonard (Len) Sugden, Andrew Wright and Caroline Wright.

Names I Don’t Recognise

Names I don’t recognise are listed below.

Martin Comber

I have not found out more about him.

Betty Dutton

It appears that Betty Dutton was working as wardrobe mistress at the Maddermarket Theatre between 1959 and 1979. In 1980, she gave a talk entitled “20 Years Hard Labour?” which apparently consisted of reflections of a retired wardrobe mistress. When she retired, she was succeeded by Jonathan Meddings. Her father was speed writer Reginald John Garfield Dutton who developed a form of shorthand in 1916. She had a brother who was killed in the first world war and another, David, who was managing director of the London Press Exchange.

---

Marlys Gaskill

Marlys Gaskill was involved with Norwich Playhouse in the nineties. I think her husband may have been Geoff Gaskill who spoke at Young Wives at St Peter’s Park Lane on the topic of jewellery from pebbles. She ran Brownies at Chapelfield Road Methodist Church until 1992.

Alison Hale

I have found a number of references to Alison Hale but I am not sure these are referring to the same person

David Mackley

I have found evidence of David Mackley speaking at Methodist Churches between 1967 and 1985 and I wonder if he was a local preacher. I also found lots of references to David Mackley taking part in competitive sailing but I am not certain this is the same person.

Edwin Mills

I have come across a description of an Edwin Mills in 1990 who was said to have a love of amateur dramatics although, at that time, he was living in Acle and was a member of a Gorleston-based society. He had just retired from a 40-year teaching career at one Norwich school. This started off as St Mark’s Boys’ School before becoming Lakenham Boys’ School and then Hewett. This was the school I attended. However, although our time there overlapped, I do not recall him. He was also involved in the Dunkirk Veterans Association, Norwich Wanderers Hockey Club, the Royal British Legion and the Royal Life Saving Society.

Percy Newton

I have found a number of references to Percy Newton but I am not sure these are referring to the same person.

Edward Peters

I have found a number of references to Edward Peters but I am not sure these are referring to the same person.

Susan Peters

I have found a number of references to Susan Peters but I am not sure these are referring to the same person.

June Rose

It is tricky searching for her in a database as there are many people with June Rose as two first names. I did however establish that she had been a member of Heartsease Lane Methodist Church. Later, she may have been a member at Park Lane, possibly involved in supporting overseas mission. In April 1987, she organised an evening service of music and poetry with Pam Ludlow, a friend of mum’s.

Jack Shorten

I have found lots of references to Jack Shorten, most notably that he was a grocer in Ampthill Street off Unthank Road for nearly 30 years until 1976. I am not sure that it was the same person as the one who was a member of the St Peter’s Drama Group but it might have been. The grocer’s hobbies were said to be as a naturalist and painter. I haven’t found anything to tie him definitively to amateur dramatics or a Methodist church. I did find evidence of a Jack Shorten in the Norwich Barbershop Singers in 1984 but I have not linked him definitively to the grocer or the member of the drama group.

Andrew Summerhayes

I have not found out more about him.

Institute of Advance Motorists

I recall that mum was a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and was quite proud of this as she considered herself a good driver. She passed her test with them in May 1981 and it seems after that she acted as secretary for them, possibly for a local branch. I found adverts for them with her as the contact person in the local press in November 1981 and July 1982. I am not sure if she stepped down after that as I have not yet fully reviewed her diaries for 1980 and beyond.

---

My Siblings

Sometimes, one or more of my siblings and I featured in the local press. This section briefly reviews any such mentions that I have identified starting with my siblings and concluding with myself.

Patricia Drew (Carrick)

Tricia appeared in the newspaper in relation to her achievements at school and regarding her subsequent engagement and marriage to Angus Carrick, see Chapter 122, who she met while at Cambridge University, see Chapter 120.

School

Tricia took her A levels and finished school in 1976, see Chapter 118. A photo of her featured in a news report of the High School’s prizegiving for that year. Mum had a copy of the article in a scrapbook and the original of the photo in an album although unusually that photo was not labelled.

---

Two years earlier, a news report of the High School’s prizegiving at St Andrew’s Hall pictured the guest, Miss Marion Hardy, presenting a girl, identified as Patricia Drew, with a prize. However, I not sure that it is Tricia in the photo and wonder if the paper may have misidentified her.

The article focused on the fact that longstanding head, Miss D F Bartholomew was due to retire at the end of the following year, the school’s centenary year. The guest speaker was Miss Marion Hardy assistant director of administration at Hatfield Polytechnic. She presented the prizes.

---

Engagement

On 30 March 1979, there was an announcement in the press of Tricia’s engagement to Angus Carrick.

---

Wedding

On 12 August 1980, there was an announcement and photo of their wedding. This had taken place at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. Tricia’s bridesmaids included Liz, schoolfriend Elizabeth Cowell and Angus’s niece Fiona Renton. Angus’s best man was Peter Alston. The report noted that they had met through Methsoc at Cambridge. It also noted that Tricia had attended Norwich High School, was a member at St Peter’s where she was a junior church teacher, choir member and helper in the youth club.

---

Alan Drew

Alan appeared in the newspaper in relation to his involvement in Boys’ Brigade, school, his educational achievements and regarding his subsequent engagement and marriage to Tina Baker who he met in the United States when he went to work there.

Boys’ Brigade

Alan was very involved in Boys’ Brigade through St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.  He was part of the 3^rd Norwich Company. 

---

Recruits Cup

In July 1974, at a parents’ open evening, Alan won the recruits cup. Nigel Finnemore won the boys’ cup and Paul Strangleman won both the NCO cup and the John Fearn trophy.

---

Boys’ Cup

In May 1976, mum went to a Boys’ Brigade open evening. Alan won the boys’ cup for attendance, appearance and behaviour. Mum noted that he held it for one year.

---

School

Mum had some news cuttings in a scrap book. Among them was this one from January 1973 from the Norwich Mercury. Alan’s class at Colman Middle School raised £10 by making and selling cakes and sweets. It is interesting to note that, at this point, in 1973, it was known as Colman Middle.

---

Educational Achievements

There were sometimes announcements in the press of our educational achievements. I was two years older than Alan but my university course lasted five years whereas his only lasted three. As a result, we graduated in the same year, in 1983, and this merited a shared announcement in the press. It gave brief details of our education and work plans. One slightly odd thing was that it referred to both our parents living at College Road which was not the case as they had been separated for ten years!

---

Engagement

In October 1988, the local press announced Alan’s engagement to Tina Baker. Tina came from California and they met while Alan was working there. The announcement noted that they would get married in two months and would then live in California. Sadly, I had just that month gone to Zimbabwe to work for three years. As a result, there was no way I could come back so soon for a wedding and I missed it.

---

Wedding

I think Alan and Tina probably combined one trip to the UK to announce their engagement and get married. They got married in the registry office at City Hall, Norwich in December 1988. Alan’s address was given as Grove Avenue in Norwich. That is where mum was living at the time but I don’t believe Alan ever lived there.

---

Elizabeth Drew (Tidy)

Liz appeared in the newspaper in relation to her involvement in school and regarding her subsequent engagement and marriage to Gary Tidy, see Chapter 122, who she knew through St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church.

School

In February 1973, Liz was pictured in the local press receiving the Mackintosh National Savings Trophy on behalf of Colman First School that she was attending at the time. They won it jointly with two other schools. They went to the Mayor’s parlour to receive the prize.

---

Mum had another cutting in her scrap book from July 1973 which I think also shows Liz’s school class although I have not definitively identified her in it. It shows her class “dressed as American Indians” performing a cantata “Angry Arrow” which was said to be based on “authentic Indian music“. The article was entitled “Wigwams in the Classroom“.

---

Engagement

In June 1983, the local press announced Liz’s engagement to Gary Tidy. They had known each other, and had been going out together, for a long time.

Wedding

The local press reported on Liz and Gary’s wedding in July 1986. This took place at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church.

---

Roger Drew

Finally, we come to my appearances in the local press. I have found more cuttings related to myself than to my other siblings. While this could reflect the relative number of cuttings available, it could also be that I have been more successful in finding cuttings related to me! Cuttings relate to representing my school in a TV quiz, participation in a church festival, a letter to the press, educational achievements, work in Zimbabwe and my engagement to Jo Ramsey who I met in Newcastle and subsequently married. Our wedding is not featured in the local press as we got married in Gateshead.

“Question Five“

In November 1977, I appeared on the regional BBC quiz show “Question Five” representing Hewett School along with the then head girl Suzy Roessler, see Chapter 118. I have found it difficult to find details of this show. It was hosted by Geoffrey Wheeler, who was much better known for hosting Top of the Form. The concept of the quiz was that each contestant was asked a question in a category and then a fifth question was directed to those at home, hence “Question Five”.

We recorded it on 18 September 1977 but sadly lost 49 to 70 although that raised £49 for the school. Presumably, this was calculated at £1 per point. We competed against a school from Bedford. While I do not recall the name of the school, I have since found out that it was Pilgrim School. Pilgrim was known as a selective secondary school, in effect a grammar school, However, in the early 1970s, it became a non-selective school which, in 1986, merged with John Howard Upper School to become Biddenham Upper School. Although the campus initially continued as the school’s Brickhill site, it closed completely two years later in 1988.

The show itself was broadcast on 8 November 1977. I simply noted that the episode had been shown. Mum however noted that I had done very well but “his girl partner was v poor”. Mum also had a cutting from the show in her scrapbook. This featured me and Suzy Roessler with Geoffrey Wheeler.  

---

I think mum’s assessment of Suzy was a bit harsh! Suzy was incredibly smart and was, I believe, the only person from our year to go on to Oxbridge. However, from memory, many of the questions were about UK popular culture about which she was less knowledgeable, possibly because she had moved to the UK from the Netherlands.

I recall that she was played the theme tune to “Top of the Pops” which she was unable identify. The format meant that if you answered a question incorrectly, the question was passed to the opposition team member of the same gender and they had an opportunity to answer. There was a round with local questions. My counterpart was asked about a person from Bedford and he answered incorrectly. The only person I had ever heard of from Bedford was John Bunyan so I said it and it was correct! The irony of this incident involving someone from Pilgrim School was, I fear, lost on me at the time!

---

I used the press archive to see if I could find out any more about “Question Five“. However, I found relatively little. It seems it may have only operated that year. Other schools that took part included Oriel Grammar School from Gorleston and Colchester Royal Grammar School. Details of which schools were competing were not always reported in the press.

Church Festival

Although I stopped attending church as I reached my teenage years, I had attended with my family until I was 11 or 12. In October 1972, there was a Methodist Festival in Norwich. I was awarded first class for a reading I gave,

---

Based on an article in the local press, it seems I may have been one of 27 entrants who read at Wroxham Road Methodist Church. The classes were arranged by Miss Pauline Mann and the adjudicator was Mrs P Chisholm. Five were selected to take part in the final concert at the Hewett School. I was one of three who were asked to take part in the Festival service of praise at Rosebery Road Methodist Church. The other two were Moira Anderton and Alan Guttridge.

---

Mrs P Chisholm

Between at least 1977 and 1989, Mrs P Chisholm ran courses at Wensum Lodge on acting, public speaking and speaking/communicating with confidence. Beyond this, I am not entirely sure who she was.

Moira Anderton and Alan Guttridge

I wonder if Moira Anderton and Alan Guttridge were from Heartsease Lane Methodist Church as two people with those names became “stalwarts” of Heartsease Lane Methodist (HELM) Players, see Chapter 124.

---

Rise of the National Front

In the late 1970s, there were growing concerns about the rise of the National Front and similar groups. I shared those concerns and was, for a short time, an active member of the Anti-Nazi League. In April 1978, I went to a Rock Against Racism event in London, see Chapter 122.

I Wrote to the Local Paper

In May 1978, I wrote to the local paper concerning a meeting held by the National Front at Bignold School. My letter did not focus on whether the meeting should have been allowed or not, despite the fact that my view was clearly that it should not. I recall discussing this with my father. He disagreed profoundly with the National Front but strongly believed in free speech, particularly during elections, and felt that they should be allowed to meet and speak. I also recall that he believed that politics was less of a spectrum and more of a circle. In his view, it did not matter whether an authoritarian regime was left wing or right wing, the practical results were the same!

A Public Meeting?

Anyway, my letter focused on the fact that although it was supposed to be a public meeting, stewards turned many people away including voters in the ward concerned. My concern was that this became a private arena and I considered this an “affront to democracy“.

---

Other Letters

There were other letters to the press on this topic. Three days earlier, T J Davison had complained about schools being used for National Front meetings. Heather Cockburn, as a parent with children at Bignold School, shared this concern as did J S Ball.

On the 4^th, Pete Green raised similar concerns to me arguing that the meeting was held on the basis of being a public meeting yet many people were denied entry. He was only one of six of the people outside who was allowed entry, perhaps because his children attended the school. He was unhappy that such a meeting had been allowed to take place at the school and argued strongly that any future meetings should be fully open to the public.

Two other letters on the issue were published in the same newspaper as mine. Christopher C Seviour, as a teacher, was opposed to the meeting being held in a school. Di Spalding agreed that schools were not the right places to hold National Front meeting. She also felt that the National Front should pay for the cost of the policing operation.

Counter Argument

While these letters all opposed the holding of the meeting, William Fitt, the National Front candidate, had a letter published on 9 May 1978. He claimed that only 14 Anti-Nazi League protestors had asked to be admitted. Of these, he said that eight were granted admission although two subsequently decided not to enter. Also, he claimed that the six who were denied admission were refused on the basis of being known members of the Socialist Workers’ Party. He claimed that no other members of the Anti-Nazi League protestors were allowed in because they didn’t ask! He also claimed that they had been prepared to admit a further 20 and that those who were admitted dominated the question session for over an hour. His views were echoed by F G Allen who was strongly critical of the Anti-Nazi League.

Three Hundred Police

There was a report in the press which noted that 300 police were drafted in for the meeting. They were heckled by an estimated 250 anti-Nazi protestors and I am pretty sure I was among them. I recall that the school was close to Chapelfield Road Methodist Church. The meeting had been called in support of William Fitt who was standing as a National Front candidate in a by-election for St Stephen’s ward. The National Front members had to leave by a back entrance with police keeping the two sides apart. The policing operation was considered to have been a success as no trouble was reported.

Election Result

Interestingly, in the vote for the by-election, the National Front candidate received only 43 votes, ahead of a candidate for the Workers’ Revolutionary Party who received only 20 votes. Peter Mercer won the seat for the Conservatives with 1.297 votes followed by David Fullman for Labour with 1,100 votes. Jonathan Hiett-Smith was third for the Liberals with 218 votes.

Again in 1979

In April 1979, a further National Front meeting was held at Bignold School and again there were protests by the Anti-Nazi League although I was not involved in those.

---

Educational Achievements

As noted above, there were sometimes announcements in the press of our educational achievements. I was two years older than Alan but my university course lasted five years whereas his only lasted three. As a result, we graduated in the same year, in 1983, and this merited a shared announcement in the press. It gave brief details of our education and work plans. One slightly odd thing was that it referred to both our parents living at College Road which was not the case as they had been separated for ten years!

---

Four years later, in November 1987, there was an article in the local paper noting that I had passed my final examinations with the Royal College of Surgeons. Interestingly, the article refers to me as Mr Drew and noted that I was working in general surgery in Ashington at that time. It also commented that my ambition was to “work abroad as a missionary“.

---

Work in Zimbabwe

Leaving in October 1988

In October 1988, the local paper reported that I was leaving Norwich to go to work in Zimbabwe. In fact, I hadn’t lived in Norwich since going to Newcastle for university in 1978, see Chapter 120. As the report noted, Jo and I were in Norwich, with our son Stephen, for a couple of weeks before leaving. My specific remit was to restart a surgical service at the hospital which I did. Although we went for an initial three-year period, our intention was to stay as long as possible and we lived and worked in Zimbabwe for ten years.

---

Furlough in 1991

The local paper also reported on my work in Zimbabwe in December 1991. In the feature “Church Chat” in an article entitled “Mission Man Out of Africa“, Andy Bash started his article looking back at the Vumba massacre which had catapulted the work of the Elim Pentecostal Church into the international spotlight.

The article noted that we had been working with Elim in Zimbabwe for three years in the areas of health and education, giving quite a lot of detail particularly of my work as a doctor. However, it incorrectly refers to me as “Norwich-born“. While I grew up in Norwich from the age of six weeks, I was born in the Nottinghamshire town of Kirkby in Ashfield. The article explained that my mother was a member of Park Lane Methodist Church and I was to be speaking at a number of Elim churches, not only in Norwich, but also in Yarmouth and Wymondham. At this stage, we had our two eldest children, Stephen and Sarah, who are mentioned in the article.

---

Another similar article appeared the same day. That also incorrectly stated that I was born in Norwich. It noted that, in addition to my Elim speaking engagements, I would be speaking at a women’s meeting at Chapelfield Road Methodist Church. It noted that mum was a local preacher and was currently studying at Cliff College.

---

Church Speaker

A week later, a notice of divine services indicated that I would be speaking at the Elim Pentecostal Church in Norwich at the morning service the next day.

---

Elim Pentecostal Church

Elim Pentecostal Church describes itself as a growing movement of Christian congregations in the UK and Ireland. Founded in 1915 by George Jeffreys, there are now around 5-600 Elim church across the UK and Ireland. The name comes from the Bible and refers to a place of refreshment.

Elim started work in Zimbabwe (then Southern Rhodesia) in 1949. A church and school were established in Penhalonga with a hospital later established in Katerere, Nyanga. At the time we were there, Elim’s main work was focused around the mission in Katerere but it later expanded into a network of churches across the country including in the capital Harare. I have a number of books which capture elements of the history of Elim in Zimbabwe including “The Rainbow or the Thunder” by Phyllis Thompson. “No Greater Love” by Joy Bath and Shirley Collins and “The Axe and the Tree” by Stephen Griffiths which I have as a Kindle version.

Elim Pentecostal Church, Norwich

When we were back in the UK in 1991, one of the Elim churches I spoke at was the one in Norwich in Trory Street. Although the church started in 1958, it initially met in various halls around Norwich before the church opened in November 1963. It continues to operate as One Norwich Elim Church, see Chapter 124.

---

Elim Pentecostal Church, Yarmouth

When we were back in the UK in 1991, one of the Elim churches I spoke at was the one in Yarmouth at 43 York Road. Although it opened around 1971, it closed before 2010. The building was converted to flats known collectively as Elim Court. There is a new Elim church in the Yarmouth suburb of Bradwell.

Elim Pentecostal Church, Wymondham

When we were back in the UK in 1991, one of the Elim churches I spoke at was in the Fairland Hall in Wymondham. Fairland Hall is the primary community building for the Fairland United Reformed Church in Wymondham. It appears that an Elim church met there between 1991 and at least 1995 but there is currently no Elim church in Wymondham. The first service was held in February 1991. Jack Groat became the church’s first pastor in September 1991 but he left after only a few months. The church’s first baptism was conducted in April 1992 at Wymondham Baptist Church.

---

Engagement

My engagement to my wife Jo (Joanne) was announced in the local press in January 1984, six months ahead of when we got married. As mentioned above, our wedding took place in Gateshead so was not featured in the local press.