Bill, we paid you a tribute in the last edition for your excellent editorship of Around Langley but I am sure our readers would love to hear a bit more about you. Could I start by asking you how your connection with Langley began?
Although I was born in Farnham Common and brought up and went to school in Slough, Barbara and I moved around the country for my job before returning to this area and moving to Langley. We moved back to this area so that Barbara could be with her mother who had Alzheimer’s. My parents also were in poor health.
Your main career has been in the Civil Service, I believe.
I was employed for 25 years as a civil servant in the Department of Social Security, doing such varied things as visiting people in the Moss Side area of Manchester, appearing before the Social Security Commissioners (‘social security judges’), representing the UK in EU working groups in Brussels and sitting in the officials’ box in the Commons and Lords. My special area was occupational pensions. After leaving the civil service I worked for some years for the National Association of Pension Funds and then a firm of actuaries. I also led training courses on pensions issues for Government officials and others in several African and Caribbean countries.
You speak Russian, Chinese and other languages, I believe. How did you get interested in languages?
My Russian is very rusty. I had some Russian lessons at school to fill up my 6th form timetable, but in the early 90’s I was involved in a project to introduce and regulate non- state pension funds in Russia and then in Kyrgyzstan. Although I used an interpreter it was helpful to be able to speak the language and understand what was going on. My trouble at present is that I tend to mix up Russian and Chinese words within a single sentence. In China I have been known to make a (simply worded) toast in English and then translate it into French, German and Chinese!
You edited Around Langley on behalf of the churches in Langley. You are also involved in organising other things such as Holiday at Home (as reported in earlier editions of the magazine). What other projects are you and Barbara involved in?
Barbara used to be secretary of the Slough branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and on the local committee of Carers National. She led Cippenham Carers Group for some years before we went to China. She and Elisabeth Howell each had the idea of ministry to older people which developed into Refresh at St Francis and “Not Home Alone” lunches. Barbara and I established Holiday at Home as an enjoyable time for older people who do not have a holiday and as part of the church’s outreach. Barbara is currently involved in St Francis Mums and Tots Group.
I participate in the Langley Neighbourhood Forum and the Langley St Mary’s Ward Neighbourhood Action Group. I see this as part of my role as ministering to the needs, and improving the quality of life, of the Langley community.
We continue to take an interest in the Church in China. I am a member of the Friends of the Chinese Church. We still support some of the projects which our church in Beijing supported, especially a project for blind children and the church life of the Lisu (a Chinese ethnic minority, about 70% of whom are Christian), where I was able to speak at a service in Mandarin before someone translated it into Lisu.
Thank you Bill for sharing some of your life experiences with us, and allowing us to see what motivates you and Barbara in all that you do in the neighbourhood.
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