Joy travels down to Reading every other week to help care for her mother. She usually goes by train, but every now and again we both drive down so that Colin can help with various maintenance things etc. Most Thursdays she goes across to Coventry to look after two delightful grandsons – at least they usually are, but they are boys! This enables our daughter Gillian to continue part-time physiotherapy work. Joy, with three others, is responsible for the leadership of the women’s ministry in Little Hill Church, the church we attend.

Colin is out preaching most Sundays – sometimes twice on a Sunday, so doesn’t see much of Little Hill at weekends. There are many small churches in Leicester and the county which are unable to support a pastor, so rely on visiting preachers for their ministry. Colin is happy to be involved in this way, in a ministry that continues to grow. There are a few churches further a field that he also visits from time to time. Two very successful hip replacements this year have made life much easier for him.