Former assistant to the Secretary of the Methodist Conference dies

It is with regret that we announce the death today ofthe Rev W. Norman Charles Wooldridge, aformer assistant to the Secretary of the British MethodistConference. He was 84 years old.

Norman Wooldridge spent almost two decades working in theMethodist Conference Office during its days at Westminster CentralHall. He was assistant to three successive Secretaries of theMethodist Conference - Eric Baker (up to 1971), Kenneth Greet(1971-1983) and Brian Beck (after 1983). His day-to-day role in theConference Office was, at the time, distinct from the role ofAssistant Secretary of the Conference, who was a circuit ministerwith responsibilities for a church.

Former Conference Secretary, the Rev Dr Kenneth Greet, said:"Norman was the most loyal and faithful of colleagues. Hisknowledge of the constitutional practice and discipline of theMethodist Church was unrivalled. He was never happier than whensorting out some legal difficulty in our work. More importantly, hewas a man with a pastoral heart. He took a personal interest in thelives of all staff at Westminster Central Hall. He was a finepreacher. Those who heard him lead morning devotions at theMethodist Conference never forgot him."

During more than half a century as a Methodist minister hisappointments included:

• 1951-1954, Rochdale South Circuit (Bolton& Rochdale District)
• 1954-1963, Jersey Circuit (Wesley GroveChurch)
• 1963-1968, Sparkhill Methodist Church(Birmingham District)
• 1964-1968, Secretary to the BirminghamDistrict Synod
• 1968-1987, Assistant to the Secretary ofthe British Methodist Conference

He retired to Carlshalton, Surrey, in 1987, where he continuedto preach in the Sutton Circuit. He is survived by his wifeSheila.