4 minute read
Announcements 22 and
Major Susan Walters out of
Cheltenham Goodwill in 1982 and last appointment Ringwood
ANTHONY COTTERILL
Commissioner Territorial Commander
WHAT’S ON
LET THERE BE PRAISE: BELLSHILL BAND
Bellshill Band features on Faith FM’s weekly Salvation Army music programme at 7pm EDT on 12 June (midnight UK time on 13 June) and on Fortress Radio Listen live on kitchener.faithfm.org or catch up the following Sunday on fortressradio.online at 3pm
LET THERE BE PRAISE: COVENTRY CITY BAND
Coventry City Band features on Faith FM’s weekly Salvation Army music programme at 7pm EDT on 26 June (midnight UK time on 27 June) Listen live on kitchener.faithfm.org or catch up the following Sunday on fortressradio.online at 3pm
AUDIO SALVATIONIST
Lieut-Colonel Margaret Wickings is concluding her role as a Salvationist audio reader, with the 11 June issue being her last. She took on the role in November 2017 and has been one of two retired officers who have recorded the audio version of Salvationist for distribution on CD to people with a visual impairment. Lieut-Colonel Rob Garrad is the other reader, and from the 18 June issue he will record each week.
Salvationist Editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts expressed his gratitude to Margaret for her work and thanked Rob for offering to take on the extra responsibility.
The audio version of Salvationist on CD is provided by the charity Galloway’s for free and can be ordered from Chris Stringer at THQ by emailing chris.stringer@ salvationarmy.org.uk. It can also be heard online at salvationist.org.uk/ media/magazine.
TRIBUTES
NORMAN RIDLEY, PERTH
NORMAN first attended a Salvation Army meeting in Ashington in 1950. Two years later he signed the Articles of War from which he never wavered for the rest of his life.
Norman moved to Perth in 1957 and it was there he met his future wife, Mary. They raised three children – Ilene, Norman and Lorna – and in 1967 the family moved to London, where Norman and Mary entered officer training.
Following their commissioning, for the next 10 years they served as corps officers. In 1978 they transferred to The Salvation Army’s Social Services Department, where they remained until 1993. Norman and Mary were then transferred overseas to Singapore, where Norman was appointed chaplain at Changi Prison and at a boys’ home until 1997.
Four years ago, Norman became involved in Cycling Without Age, raising funds and providing support and encouragement. This earned him the nickname ‘Stormin’ Norman’. – AH
MAJOR LESLIE GREEN
LESLIE Green entered the International Training College in 1959 from his home corps of Eccles, becoming a member of the Greathearts session. He was first appointed to Leyland with Chorley, followed by Danvers and Wirksworth.
He married Lieutenant Christina Baybutt in 1963. Together they served at corps in the Midlands and northeast England until 1972, when a four-year appointment took them to East Africa, firstly to Mgulani in Tanzania and then to the newly opened Joyland in Kisumu, Kenya.
Returning to the UK in 1976, further corps appointments followed, mainly in northwest England, then a brief spell in Social Services. Their daughter, Anita, joined the family in 1978. The couple returned to corps ministry in 1986 serving at Strood, Mashbury, Westbourne, King’s Lynn, Lowestoft South and Reading West, before retiring to Southsea in 2000. Sadly, Christina was promoted to Glory in 2009.
In retirement Les remained faithful to his calling and was a dedicated evangelist, which was expressed through his selling of Army papers, speaking to people at open-air meetings, collecting door to door, making new people feel welcome at worship and his active membership of the Rotary club. He was also a valued member of the songsters. Despite poor health, Les battled to maintain these activities for as long as possible.
He is greatly missed by his daughter and by the fellowship at Southsea Corps. – JB
BETTY SAPSFORD, LEICESTER SOUTH
BETTY was born in Leicester in 1928. At the age of seven she was taken to Leicester North Evington Corps by a childhood friend and became a member of the singing company, later becoming leader of the Sunbeams and joining the songsters as a young adult.
Betty met Len at youth councils held at the Co-op Halls in Belgrave Gate and they were married in 1950. Len transferred from Berners Street Corps, joining Betty at Leicester North Evington.
Betty and Len had two sons, Stephen and Geoffrey, and she became grandmother to Timothy, Andrew, Pollyanna and William.
Betty was an enthusiastic member of the women’s fellowship and member of the over-55 club at Leicester South. Retiring from the songsters aged 81, Betty continued as a faithful soldier to the end, always offering a word of encouragement and friendship to all. – CH
