Our friendship with Sheilagh goes back many years. Sue’s first real memory of her is as a teenager in the 1960s when Sheilagh was helping with the Youth work at Carey church and Peter after he came to Reading and became a member of Carey in 1976. Special times in Clanfield Crescent saw crowds of young people squashed into her room while singing hymns and songs together as Sheilagh accompanied on her piano, and then supplied us with drinks and biscuits. We, in turn, supplied Sheilagh with all the latest news in our lives!
We remember Sheilagh for her great sense of fun. Carey camps were special times when our children were young, which we’ve mused over more recently. You really get to know your church family as you camp in a field for a week together with no ‘mod cons’, working in teams to feed and look after everyone! Serious daily times together learning more from God’s Word, the Bible, were accompanied by a large dose of fun and relaxation. (See the photo of Sheilagh with her friends Ann and Shirley ‘performing’ at the evening concert!, 1983).
Sheilagh’s unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus as her Saviour has stood the test of time and difficulties over the years. She stood firm, and it was always her wish and prayer that her children, grandchildren and friends should continue to know, or experience for the first time the peace and help that she has known from God. As we’ve continued to worship together at Christchurch Tilehurst over the last few years, it’s been a privilege to spend more time with Sheilagh than previously. Her family and friends were very special to her and she will be very fondly remembered as a unique and special lady.
Peter and Sue Ward