Eric was a Lancashire lad and born in 1923 in Leigh to loving Christian parents.

When he was five he was given a baby sister, Margery who he never ceased to love for the rest of his life.

His dad was a Methodist lay preacher for 60 years as well as an ardent supporter of Leigh Rugby League Football Club. Eric was likewise keen on rugby though in his later years his loyalties were divided between Rugby League and Man United with an occasional inquiry of his cousins how Bolton Wanderers were doing.

On leaving Grammar school he worked briefly as a clerk with the railway and then had to serve for 6 years in the Royal Engineers in Scotland. There he developed his considerable football skills when not on duty as a sergeant in charge of loading arms and equipment, often on ships for the Russian convoys. He often recalled that hopeless task as ship after ship was sunk on the run to Murmansk.

At the end of the war he was among the parties who boarded German U-boats as they surrendered. All this gave him a heartfelt admiration for bravery and a loathing of warfare between men.

His long term ambition was to serve as a minister of the Gospel which he had embraced at 16 years of age. So, on demob he studied at Cliff College and also worked there as an evangelist. Then he was baptised and went on to further study. It was at Glasgow Bible College that he met Ena and they decided to share their lives.

They had come to a crossroads. Though he was always deeply interested in the worldwide Church he felt his call to teach, preach and pastor in this country. A tall order, but this was the day of "one-man ministry" and he was pretty efficient in all departments, sometimes even all at the same time!

After an initial pastorate at Trinity Baptist Church in Derby he was invited to Retford Baptist Church for 3 years - he was to minister here for 31 years! Though there were offers from elsewhere as well as renewed invitations from R.B.C., and sometimes it was tempting to make a fresh start, he never felt released from his commitment to help to see this church prosper.

So here he remained, watching generations develop to contribute to the Christian scene and delighting in the achievements of each.

Son Tim was born in 1958 and was his pride and joy. When Tim married Claire yet another loving bond was forged. He went on to delight in his granddaughters, Kirsty and Hannah and on the day of his death they heard yet more of his corny jokes at the breakfast table.

On retirement he remained as busy as ever, still teaching and preaching, still giving gentle counsel when asked for it.

He was keen to spread the written Christian word as well and loved to help at Book Aid with Steve & Richard, Mark & Peter and all the others. Books were his life really as witness the state of his study when he left it!!

His pleasures in retirement were his garden and his car which he drove intrepidly, especially to Scotland. He even said all his cars always preferred to turn North.

He died suddenly while out for the day with all the family to the beach at Felixstowe.

He was a quiet & gentle man who will be remembered for a long time by many people in many different places.

Eric died in harness at the age of 80 with a full diary.