SALMON FAMILY CREST

THIS WEBSITE HAS HAD

SITE MENU

New or recently updated pages

have YELLOW buttons

THIS WEBSITE

"JESUS FOLK" - 12th JUNE 1985

At this Circuit production of "Jesus Folk", the actor playing Judas Iscariot (Alan Donnelly) is derided by the crowd, among whom I recognise Kim Donnelly, Jane Parker, Andrea Kidd, Jackie Stocks, Joy McMillan, Barbie Sanderson and Fiona Pearson.

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP in a garden on Hunts Cross Avenue - 29th June 1986

WESLEY'S CHAPEL, LONDON - 14th September 1986

Our Minister, Revd Gerald Tedcastle, had previously been based at Wesley's Chapel, City Road, London. He took the Youth Fellowship group for a weekend to see a piece of Methodist history.

This was a memorable occasion. I drove the hired minibus, which had lost a wire from the alternator. By the time we arrived the battery was flat, and I spent the Saturday morning fixing it!

Thirteen of us slept in a cellar, and after a tour of John Wesley's house and St Paul's Cathedral we went drinking on Tottenham Court Road, and almost missed the last tube train back on the Saturday night. Then we were reprimanded by the new Minister for having wine with our Sunday lunch! The photo shows Andrew Carpenter, Barry Carpenter, Revd Gerald Tedcastle, Ray Jennings, Jane Carpenter, Tony Laverty, Jane Parker, Janet Parker and Tracy Stocks at the foot of the statue of John Wesley's mother.

CHURCH WEEKEND -

9th OCTOBER 1988

Emma Holroyd and Mrs Southern - almost 90 years apart in age, but together in the fun of the Church Weekend at Abbott's Hall, Grange-over-Sands.

As I took this photograph, I was unaware that, back in Liverpool, my mother had passed away that afternoon.

As the sun goes down on a hot Sunday evening, the Youth Fellowship gathers in Jack & Wynne Richards' garden to enjoy a barbecue and a "sing-a-long-a-Ray Jennings". Bernice Stocks & Revd Gerald Tedcastle watch as Tony Laverty sings a solo into a toasting fork accompanied by Janet and Jane Parker, while Gary Smith watches his beefburger burn to a frazzle on the grill.

Above - Ray Jennings and Wynne Richards show him how it's done!

BUSES

  (C) COPYRIGHT:
Tony Salmon 2006-2012
All rights reserved

Be still and know that

I am God.
 (Psalm 46: 10)

Rev Brian Stocks arrived at St James' in the summer of 1977. He conducted his first service there at 10.45 am on Sunday 4th September, the day before I started work after leaving school. The Manse on Manor Road was suddenly alive with activity. He had four daughters, ranging from 11 to 16 years of age, his wife Bernice and a blue Ford Cortina Estate (XJA 594L), which he later sold to my brother John.

He was not new to the ministry, having come from Edgeley Methodist Church in Stockport and previously working in Zambia.

In 1985 he moved on to Holmfirth, Yorkshire, and Bernice worked during this time as a midwife at Dewsbury & District Hospital, only half a mile from where I landed when I left Liverpool in 1989.

After another move to the Wirral, he retired and returned to Woolton, becoming a "supernumerary" minister at St James' and virtually running the place during a period when there was no incumbent minister.

In October 2010 the church held a special service and lunch at which Brian and Bernice cut a special cake. I attended my first morning service there since April 1989 and took Bethany along. It was amazing to see how many familiar faces were still there, and to meet up with the gang who had been teenagers with me back in the 1970s. To their embarrassment I took along my old photograph albums from those days.

It was also amazing to see Rev Malcolm Carter (Court Hey & Huyton Trinity) and Rev John Roberts (St Peter's Woolton), both now retired, taking part in the events. I couldn't help but think of "Last of the summer wine"!

The photographs of the day can be seen in a public Facebook album by clicking HERE.

I was commissioned to write a poem to read out at the event. Rather predictably I called it "Ode to Brian Stocks" and it is included on this page.

Brian and his family were to have a significant influence on my life in the late 70s and early 80s, and helped lay the foundation on which I have built so much since. I will always be grateful for this as, no doubt, will countless others.

REV BRIAN STOCKS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN THE METHODIST MINISTRY - 3rd October 2010

ODE TO BRIAN STOCKS

Brian Stocks, what a wonderful very nice bloke,
He's always up for a laugh and a joke.
Friendly and smiling, and willing to chat
About something, or nothing, or this thing, or that!

Brian Stocks, what a diligent hard-working man
Who gets his hands dirty and helps where he can,
Always prepared to muck in, if you ask,
No matter how tough or unpleasant the task!

Brian Stocks, what a marvellous husband and dad;
A solid foundation for the daughters he had.
What pride he must feel as they move on through life,
And so obvious his love for Bernice, his wife.

Brian Stocks, what a minister, pastor and preacher;
The message in his sermon cannot fail to reach yer.
Sincere and profound is his every word
As he proclaims his love for his Saviour and Lord.

In a world full of temporary fashion and folly,
Where no one has time to be kindly or jolly,
In a world full of quicksand with very few rocks
Still solid, dependable, stands Brian Stocks.

Zambia, Stockport, Holmfirth and St James'
Have too many people to list all their names,
But for fifty long years they've had one to rely on -
Meruti, Kemo Sabe, the Reverend - Brian!

Above:  The Junior Church float in the Woolton Fete Parade - 19 Jun 1982
Below: (colour pictures) Celebrating 50 years in the Ministry - 3 Oct 2010
Bottom right: Brian on a church outing to Derbyshire - 31 May 1980