We’re sure you have all noticed a few extra Scottish accents in and around the church in the last 18 months. Originally they came from a small village called Blackwood, which is about 20 miles south of Glasgow. Shirley and Jim met at their local Church of Scotland about 23 years ago (yes they were really young!). You could say they were the original girl and boy next door as they both lived in the same street (No 10 & No 21)

They were married in 1986 with virtually the whole village in attendance. That same year Shirley graduated as a Physiotherapist and the following year Jim (the mature student at 25) graduated as an Industrial Engineer. Jim left school at 16 and joined Philips Electronics as an apprentice mechanical engineer. The company sponsored him through University and having successfully graduated, return to work for them full time. He has worked for them for almost 24 years in various positions, which have taken them as a family around the world. Most recently Jim has been appointed as Plant Director of the Simonstone Glass factory where he currently works, which should keep them as a family in Preston for the foreseeable future.

Andrew was born 12 years ago and Laura 5 years later, when they were living in Surabaya in Indonesia. They spent 5 wonderful years there, going from the freezing cold of Scotland to the tropics of Indonesia, from a strong Presbyterian Church of Scotland, to the multi denominational Surabaya International Christian Fellowship.

On returning to Scotland they hardly had time to unpack before Jim’s work took them on the move again this time to Lancashire.

During their travels they have found that their faith and a strong church connection has strengthened their family bonds. Jim (as I’m sure you have realised) really enjoys an active role including youth work, drama groups and has been known to take, from time to time, the Sunday service, preaching on several occasions both in Indonesia for the multi denominational congregation and for their home church back in Scotland. Through the years he has been overall leader of Sunday school, Youth Club, Sunday Night Youth Fellowship and Summer Holiday Clubs and really thrives on these activities. Shirley on the other hand prefers to provide the family support and is always happy to have an open house with traditional Scottish hospitality

As for Andrew and Laura, as time goes on we will start to see and hear a lot more of them, as they seem to be following in Dad’s footsteps. As a family they are very pleased to be part of the fellowship of Fulwood Methodist Church and in particular the way that they have been made to feel welcome as newcomers into our Christian community. By God’s grace they pray that as time goes on they as a family can contribute in full to the life and work of Fulwood Methodist.