It was with regret that last year the Trustees accepted the resignation of our long serving Treasurer, Mr William Minchin. Bill, as he is affectionately known, had decided that his ill health was becoming a hindrance to being able to actively serve as Treasurer.

Bill is a founder member of the BIBTF and has loyally served as a Trustee and Treasurer for more years than he cares to remember and many members remember him being at Orange Street Congregational Church until incapacity during the last few years precluded his attendance. He was the first person to greet me the first time that I went to Orange Street. He greeted me in the Lord’s Name and in friendship and I am pleased to say that we have been friends ever since. In view of such long and honourable service the Trustees of the Fellowship decided to mark Bill’s retirement from active service with an illuminated certificate as a mark of our appreciation.

It was hoped and planned that our President, Dr Michael Bennett, would present the certificate to Bill’s daughter, Linda, at the AGM in May. Unfortunately, Linda was unable to be present. So, after the Certificate had been shown to the members, it was decided that I should take the Certificate to Newbury and present it to Bill on behalf of the Trustees and members of the Fellowship. This I said I would be pleased to do.