My name is Joan Hardman, née Rawlinson, I have 2 nieces (daughters of my brother Sydney), 2 step children, 4 grandchildren and a great grandson. As excitement about "Building Together" grows and plans for developing our church begin to take place, my thoughts keep returning to my roots, for my parents were founder members of Fulwood Wesleyan Church. They were Sunday School teachers and Choir members. My Father was Choir master at the time of his untimely death at the age of 43. My mother was Circuit Treasurer for Women’s work for many years (now incorporated with Network)

I attended Deepdale Council School and The Park School (now part of Preston College, in Moor Park Avenue), before studying at Edge Hill Teacher Training College which was evacuated to Bingley in the West Riding. After qualifying I taught in Irlam and Davyhulme. Returning to live at home, I worked in Leyland for nearly 30 years before marrying John and acquiring a ready made family.

There were no scouts or guides at Fulwood when I was young, but we had great times in the Junior Guild and the Inters Guild. Much later I was Guild Secretary, followed by becoming District Guild Secretary, in which capacity I considered it an honour to be able to attend the Methodist Conference two years running, (even though it meant losing two weeks’ salary!) I also taught in Sunday School and became Junior Leader. This was in the days when we met at 2.15 in the afternoon. At one time we used to have special preachers for Sunday School anniversaries, sometimes booked a year ahead and it was quite the thing to go to another church’s anniversary to hear a ‘big’ name. I have been a member of the choir for many years and have happy memories of choir concerts held at various churches in the circuits. How many people know that there were once six Circuits in Preston and District? I suppose you could say that I have been surrounded by Methodism all my life.

However, I do have a life outside church, which I think is essential and my step son and family keep an eye on me. I have always been interested in amateur drama. I caught the bug from my mother I expect and first trod the boards at the age of ten in a marquee on Avenham Park. For a number of years I was stage manager for Preston Drama Club. Currently I help to keep an eye on Preston Playhouse, the amateur theatre in town, occasionally wielding a paint brush or screw driver or dispensing tea.

As a youngster, I enjoyed holidays at Guild Homes up and down the country where there was company for my mum and brother as well as me. Since my husband died, I continue to visit them and I am able to meet again people with whom I made friends long ago. Foreign travel still beckons! Learning more about my computer and trying not to lose the information helps to keep the old grey cells busy and I still enjoy singing in the Orpheus Choir. I need help in the garden these days but I enjoy pottering.

As I grew up, raising money was a way of life. First, it was to clear the debt on the Church, next the clearing the debt on the School. Can you imagine having concerts in the Parlour? My first memory of a concert is being dressed as a sunbeam and I still have the dress to prove it!! The Ladies gave some wonderful concerts, often making all their own costumes. The Junior Guild also excelled in entertaining everybody, whilst the efforts of the Young People’s Fraternal were second to none. In all our efforts there was a great feeling of togetherness.

I think that the founding fathers showed great forethought in building such a large church when their numbers were small and as the congregation increased so did the need for space. But one can’t live in the past. I’m alive in the here and now! I am sure that my forefathers would approve of the current need for yet more space. I hope that with concentrated effort the dreams may become reality for the church family in Fulwood, for the community as a whole and for the greater glory of God.