Letters

CORPS CADETS’ VISIT CHANGED MY LIFE

DURING a corps cadet guardian conference at Sunbury Court in the late Sixties, I listened to others attending from Ireland who said that no SA groups visited Ireland because of the Troubles. At the age of 25 my life was changed completely as a result of a corps cadet brigade coming to Ireland in July 1970. They visited my corps for just one day and made such an impression on me that it helped me to consider officership as a possibility for my life.

I spoke to my corps officer about how I was feeling and I told him that I would let him know my decision when he returned from his furlough. Time passed. After he returned I didn’t say a word to him. Then one Friday morning at my work desk I spoke aloud and said: ‘That’s it Lord, I am going to see the lieutenant tonight to let him know.’ That very afternoon my boss called me into his office and offered me a promotion. After that there was no returning and I entered the training college in 1971 as a member of the Blood and Fire Session.

In 2005 my wife and I were changing appointment and the DC called me from the appointment conference relating to our future. They were concerned about the distance of the proposed appointment from the town we were hoping to retire to in five years’ time, but were convinced that this was God’s appointment for us. We were appointed to Stowmarket, the corps where the corps cadets came from all those years earlier!

It was a wonderful experience to meet some of those people and to share my testimony with them. The corps cadet guardian was still alive and I had the privilege of conducting her funeral and thanksgiving service before leaving the corps in 2008.

I thank God for that group of young people who, despite the dangers in Northern Ireland at the time, visited us; and for all the blessings that have been mine as God used them to help me discover his will for my life.

Harry Wilson, Major, Cheltenham

WHAT a thrill it was to read the testimony of Cadet Paul Devine (Salvationist 16 March)! Paul shared the amazing spiritual journey he has so far experienced, from an inmate of Perth Prison to appointment as Perth corps officer, along with his lovely wife Alexandra.

The fellowship at Hemel Hempstead was privileged to welcome Paul and Cadet James Addis for a period during their training, and trust we contributed as much to them as they did to us.

At that time there were also opportunities for Paul’s officer wife to be with us, and a special bond was formed when their daughter was born, then later dedicated to God here.

On learning of their appointment I was able to share with Paul that, as a cadet in the Standard Bearers Session, I was included in the group that conducted a ten-day campaign at Perth. Bandmaster Stewart had high rank in the city police and enabled us to conduct a meeting at the prison.

The Lord makes wonderful links for us in the Army!

Len Roberts, Hemel Hempstead

SALLY ANN ON DVD

SOME time ago, I inquired through the letters page of Salvationist about an episode of a Southern Television series I saw called Sally Ann, starring Stephanie Cole of Tenko fame as a major and filmed around the old Southampton Citadel buildings c1979. I know my letter was followed up, but I have since discovered that the series is available to purchase on DVD by visiting renownfilms.co.uk/ product/sally-ann-the-completeseries

As most people I speak to have never heard of this series, or confuse it with the Thora Hird sitcom Hallelujah!, I just wanted to let people know.

Morvyn Finch, Ipswich

WHAT ARE WE BECOMING?

SINCE retiring from work at the end of 2018 I have had the privilege of selling the Army papers each week in the centre of Worcester. I have been amazed at the generosity of the general public, young and old; nearly every donation is accompanied by the words ‘towards all the good work you do’.

What has amazed me more is the number of people who do not realise that we are first and foremost a church. In the way the Army now portrays itself to the public are we neglecting to include the word church?

We have the red shield as our emblem – with no cross on it. At Christmas, in all the appeal adverts and literature, was there any mention of Christ?

Are we not rapidly becoming known for and selling ourselves as primarily a social service rather than a Christian church that believes in ‘heart to God and hand to man’?

John Stimpson, Worcester

LOCAL OFFICER APPOINTED O SL Stephen Jones, Southampton Sholing

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Blue Sapphire (65th) O Eddie and Mildred Coppin, Worthing (17 April) O Rtd CS Gerry and Rtd HLS Hilda Parsons, Cardiff Canton (19 April)

DEDICATED TO GOD O Isabelle Dottie, daughter of Sam and Andrea Bragg, at Pentre by Major Gethin Thomas O Florence Sarah, daughter of Scott and Danielle Cochrane, at Paisley by Major Cora Joy Tucker

RETIRED OFFICERS Birthday congratulations O Major Nanella Weir (80 on 16 April)

BEREAVED O Peter Knightley, Liverpool Walton, of his wife Pamela O Mrs Lieut-Colonel Helen Boyden of her husband Lieut-Colonel Cyril Boyden O Major Betty Jones of her husband Major Richard Jones, Claire Bailey of her father O Trevor Stubbington, Chelmsford, of his father Major Brian Stubbington

PROMOTED TO GLORY O Lieut-Colonel Cyril Boyden from Hospice Care, Canada, on 23 March O Major Richard Jones from Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on 23 March

O Major Brian Stubbington from Southend Hospital on 27 March

ICO DELEGATES The 241st session of the International College for Officers begins on 10 April The delegates are O Major Christine Waller, Australia O Captain Peter van Duinen, Canada and Bermuda O Major Terence Hale, Canada and Bermuda O Major Jean Laurore Clenat, Caribbean O Captain Sandra Mitchell, Caribbean O Captain Olga Iniutocichina, Eastern Europe O Captain Levan Kvernadze, Eastern Europe O Captain Konstantin Shvab, Eastern Europe O Major Marina Zueva, Eastern Europe O Captain Vitaly Sidorov, Finland and Estonia O Major Visranthamu Devadasi, India Central O Major Yesupadam Vampugudi, India Central O Major Aichhungi Fanai, India Eastern O Major Ulfat Masih, India Northern O Captain Jansi Hemalatha, India South Eastern O Captain Suresh Waghmare, India Western O Major Violet Mugimi, Kenya West O Major Musu Kanmoe, Liberia O Major Liz Gainsford, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa O Major Victoria Olatunji, Nigeria O Major Renie Reginio, The Philippines O Captain Lubov Gorbunova, Russia O Captain Andrei Slashchev, Russia

ENGAGEMENTS

GENERAL BRIAN PEDDLE AND COMMISSIONER ROSALIE PEDDLE

O Peterborough Citadel (Palm Sunday), Sat Sun 14 Apr O India South Western Territory,

Wed 24 – Sun 28 O Budapest (European Zonal Conference), Mon 29 – Fri 3 May

THE CHIEF OF THE STAFF (COMMISSIONER LYNDON BUCKINGHAM) AND COMMISSIONER BRONWYN BUCKINGHAM O ICO (welcome to session), Th 11 Apr O ICO (lecture), Tu 16 O Croydon Citadel (Easter), Th 18 – Sun 21 O USA (National Advisory Board meeting), Tu 23 – Sun 28

THE TERRITORIAL COMMANDER (COMMISSIONER ANTHONY COTTERILL)

AND COMMISSIONER GILLIAN COTTERILL O ICO (welcome to session), Th 11 Apr

O Bishop’s Stortford (Palm Sunday), Sun 14 O Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls

O Major Violet Nyongesa, Rwanda and Burundi O Captain Andrew Lo, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar O Major Mauricio Gutierrez, South America East O Major Robert Wright, Southern Africa O Captain Janis Sporans, Sweden and Latvia O Major Colin Hylton-Jones, United Kingdom with Republic of Ireland O Major Fiona Partland, United Kingdom with Republic of Ireland O Major Donna Leedom, USA Central O Major Martina Cornell, USA Eastern O Major Caleb Prieto, USA Southern O Major Ann Marguerite Jones, USA Western The translators are O Major Natalia Penttinen, Finland and Estonia O Major Cristina Stasiuc, Eastern Europe

TRIBUTES

RUTH TIMMS, RUGBY RUTH was born in 1933. She attended the Army at Chalk Farm from an early age, then Birmingham Citadel and later Worcester. When Ruth was 12 the family moved to Rugby, and it was there her love for music and singing was nurtured and inspired by her father, the late Bandmaster Edgar Cuell.

Ruth served at Rugby for many years as a company guard, songster and songster secretary, her beautiful soprano voice blessing many people.

In her later years increasing frailty prevented her regular attendance but she maintained a strong witness in the care home and to her family, displaying quiet courage and confidence in her faithfulness.

Ruth is sadly missed by her family and friends and all on whom she had an influence.

A solo that Ruth often sang will comfort those who most keenly feel her loss: ‘In the love of Jesus there is all I need… In the love of Jesus is perfect rest’ (SASB 259). – J. S.

MAJOR JUNE MARSHALL JUNE was born in 1940 to Salvationist parents who worshipped at West Stanley Corps. She became a soldier aged 15 and, over the next 25 years, held local officer positions including YPSM, singing company leader and over-60 club treasurer.

In 1963 June married Mervyn and they had two daughters, Linda and Bev. In 1980 June and Mervyn became envoys with an appointment at Birtley. In 1981 they were warranted as auxiliary-captains and went on to serve at Jarrow, Buckhaven (where they received substantive rank as captains in 1986), Inverness, Bellshill, Hull Icehouse, Halifax, South Shields and Shotton Colliery.

June’s special calling was her love for people. She became a confidante to many, relishing providing food for the soul and the body with her compassion and cooking. At Inverness she became involved in work at the Army hostel, ministering to the residents, staff and those who attended the drop-in. Her

ministry to children was a vital part of her vocation and she was heavily involved with the young people at many of her appointments.

June was an enthusiastic member of the home league, and she took special interest in the women of each corps. She had a beautiful soprano voice and was often called upon to sing solos and duets with her husband and Linda. On retirement in 2006, June and Mervyn soldiered at South Shields. In later years June was confined to a wheelchair but could still be found collecting in the town centre on flag days and during carolling.

June is a much-loved and missed wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and her service for the Lord was steadfast until her sudden promotion to Glory. The love and care she showed to everyone were evidenced by the full hall at her thanksgiving service, attended by Salvationists and people of the community from varied walks of life. – L. L.

Soldiers’ and adherent members’ tributes submitted for publication should be no longer than 150 words. Good quality pictures will be included with tributes.

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