Places I have lived in the UK - Hull

I lived in Hull for 4 years and worked in the Longhill estate building up a congregation. It was then a very rough estate but we felt very much welcomed and wanted. Whilst at Brownies one evening, my daughter walked for the first time. We worked very hard and was good to see a very good sized congregation emerge. The yearly Christmas Day Dinners were one of the many highlights. The people were very nice, the elderly, the families, the youngsters, the disabled and Down Syndrome group - everyone just loved to come to the various activities and worship and have fun. There was very little money, very little equipment, and very little support from anywhere yet we had four wonderful years in ministry and were sad to leave them all as we had seen such wonderful changes in people and seen them grow so much spiritually.

The Ironies of Life! Here we were in Hull, but just before arriving, everything packed, we were told there was no house for us (we are still not sure what that was all about!) but anyway we were placed in the hostel for about six months whilst a house was sorted out. No health ans safety or safe and sound all those years ago!! We were in the family section but Philip would go up and down the lift on his own and wander all over the place and talk to all sorts of strangers and we never thought anything of it. We were very careful with him but nowadays it would be a very different thing I am sure. People did think it funny that we were in the Army and homeless!! For John it meant a lot of travelling or long days away but the children (and I) loved it. Fish tanks, lots of new people to talk with, meet and and listen to. Some wonderful stories, some tragic, some odd and some very funny. And...a huge toy store across the road opened at that time. The children loved to 'play' with toys since theirs were all packed except for teddy bears, a couple of Transformers and a Barbie doll.


Sadly, the Salvation Army as it was in Longhill no longer exists but I know that a group still meets in someones home and they recently wrote to me to say that a lot of money is being raised for the Helping Hand Projects. I thank the Lord for the priviledge I had to be there at that time. I learnt so much from them and from the experiences we all went through.

Hull is still enjoying a time of change and refurbishment throughout the town. It is about time!

God Bless Hull as it recovers from the floods.