Tribute to past Vice-President Leon Murray JP MBE

By the Revd Derrick R. Lander

In September 1961, a young man from Jamaica, travelling alone, arrived in London hoping to meet up with an old school friend in Wellington, Shropshire.   With kind help from a London Taxi driver and a helpful porter at Euston Station who ensured he had the right ticket and travel directions, Leon safely arrived in Wellington. He met and married Barbara, made their home in Wellington and had two daughters Christine and Rachel, the family he loved dearly.

As a young man he had been brought up in a Methodist family. His parents were committed to the programme for ‘Working alongside the Poor’ and saw local politics as being part and parcel of serving the community. On his first Sunday in Wellington he made his way to the Methodist church in New Street where he was warmly welcomed, and in the following months and years he became a member of the youth club, became a church officer and local preacher, and in time attended the district Synod and Methodist Conference.

During the same period, Leon found various employment, eventually finding employment in industry working for the engineering company GKN Sankey Ltd. Leon became highly regarded as a conscientious worker, and on the shop floor was seen to be a loyal colleague able to make radical but fair assessment of industrial relations.  With such a reputation Leon became a trusted Shop Steward, and in the community his involvement spanned the legal system, the church, charities and politics. He served on the Telford Youth Bench; he became a local Councillor respected for his integrity and his willingness to help everyone and especially the most needy regardless of race, faith or no-faith.  Leon was twice Mayor of Telford and Wrekin, he became a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, a post he regarded as a great privilege, and was awarded an MBE for work in community relations and development.

Such is the story of this remarkable man who was to become the first Black person to be elected to one of the most senior offices of the Methodist Conference. At the Birmingham Conference In 1985, Leon became Vice-President, partnering with the President Revd Christopher Hughes Smith with whom a deep and lasting friendship was formed.  During the year, working together, the President and Vice-President challenged the church to honour and cherish the contribution of all members both black and white, offering themselves as a living example of how blessed the church is when our fellowship has no barriers of language, race or culture. His term as Vice-President is remembered as that of a quiet, sincere gentleman of Christian faith, whose great gift was the ability to affirm and include all people as children of God regardless of race or background.

Following his year as Vice-President, Leon continued to serve the wider Methodist Connexion through a generous commitment of time and experience, serving on a variety of connexional committees and being especially helpful in offering leadership or guidance to the church on committees dealing with matters relating to lay or ministerial employment, discipline, and equality. This he continued while still supporting his local church.

Leon Murray died on the 14 January surrounded by his family who we continue to hold in our prayers.  In Leon the Methodist Church has been blessed by someone who has provided the Church and the Connexion with inspirational and faithful leadership, and for that we give thanks to God.