The much missed former Methodist Minister in the Dale, Deacon Sue Peat, was delighted to meet a lady from Weardale at the Easter Sunday service she was leading at the weekend.
Deacon Sue was at a ‘little’ Methodist chapel in Apperley, near Tewksbury in the Gloucestershire Methodist circuit when she came across retired teacher, Shirley Bell (nee Miller) who was in the congregation. Shirley and her family moved into Westgate from Sunderland during the war.
Shirley, whose niece is Rev Heather Ross, had heard that Weardale had a female Methodist Minister a few years ago. When Deacon Sue mentioned she had gone to Gloucestershire from here, Shirley wondered if this was the same person. The late Wendy McGuire from Westgate was Shirley’s sister so she has still has many links in the Dale, notably through her niece, Marilyn.
Deacon Sue, who regularly features on Radio 2 bringing the ‘Thought For The Day’ takes up the story: ‘Shirley was so excited to meet me and we had a lovely chat after the service when she told me about her life growing up in Westgate. She spoke with such fondness for Weardale and remembered many people that I remember too from the Dale. It really made my day”
Shirley’s father was Headteacher at both Westgate and then to St John’s Chapel, presumably when the former closed. Shirley would follow her father into the profession too. She married a local lad whose father was the caretaker at High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn, and lived in the house next door.
Deacon Sue added, “Shirley wants to send her love to everyone who may remember her. It just goes to show that you just never know who you are going to meet! It was a wonderful surprise”
It really is a small world.
