The Reverend Eric Parker and his lovely wife June were given the full treatment at a party organised by his parishioners to mark Eric's retirement from active ministry at Milford's Baptist Church last Saturday, 27th February, the day he celebrated his 65th Birthday.  This beautiful cake was made by Frances Humphrey, one of the Baptist congregation in Milford: the top-left panel represents the back drop to the altar in the Baptist Church off Barnes Lane and the house  on the bottom right is, of course., a copy of the house into which June and Eric are due to move.  They would have been there now if it hadn't been for the freezing winter during the course of which pipes froze and subsequently burst, leaving the house to which the Parkers were due to move, ruined.  Drying out from the flood which flowed unnoticed for several days has taken a good while and serious repairs had to be put in hand, some of which are still be done.   Eric and June will be staying in Milford until the house is finally ready.

Eric studied for the ministry at Spurgeon's College as a mature student.  Leaving his career in Marketing he felt called to the Ministry and towards the end of his studies his ordination he and June spent time in California where he gained wider experience in the Baptist field.  Eric then spent time in Jarrow as an ordained Pastor, followed by 18 years in Angmering-on-Sea.  There were several people at Saturday's party from Angmering who had come to renew their friendships with their former pastor and his wife and to add to the festivities.  Moving from one part of the South Coast to another Eric and June then spent several years in Milford where they made many more friends.  They will both be very much missed after their departure to Hythe - in Hampshire - and we wish them both many happy years in retirement when it is very unlikely that they will sit in cosy armchairs in front of the television for the rest of their lives.  They both have far too much joie de vivre to merely sink back into the cushions!