Local preacher and financier, he was born on 30 January 1947 at Long Eaton and brought into Methodism through the Sunday School. At 16 he joined Barclays Bank and rose to be a branch manager before changing careers in 1982 to become administrator of St. John's College, Nottingham. In 1989 he was appointed the first lay General Secretary of the Division of Finance and by his professionalism and open manner, and his experience of local church and circuit office, rapidly won over those who had doubted whether a lay person could fill that traditionally ministerial post. In that capacity he oversaw the transition from Ministers' Retirement Fund to Methodist Ministers' Pension Scheme; and as secretary of the Central Finance Board he helped to initiate the Epworth Investment Management Company, designed to make the expertise of the Board available to other charities. He was chairman of the Methodist Ministers' Housing Society and successfully saw through a £1.5m appeal. He was committed to collaborative working and a strong advocate of structural reform to ensure better stewardship of the Church's financial resources. In 1995 he was appointed Co-ordinating Secretary for Central Services in the Connexional Team which replaced the Divisions. In 1996 leukaemia was diagnosed and he died on 9 April 1997, working on his papers until the end.

Entry written by: BEB
Category: Person
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