"I was coming up for 12 when father died of cancer - 31.12.38 and (sister) Eileen took over the management of a very rundown business - hit by 30's depression. None of us went to university as we all had to pay for the bread and butter. I passed the 11-Plus and could have gone to the Grammar School (where my Uncle Peter) went or the Secondary School (where my dad went), but mother would have had to pay the money which we hadn't really got so I went to the Intermediate (where my Uncle Julian went). I did a somewhat aborted engineering apprenticeship - anything but going into the shop - and got a job at Stordy Engineering when JJS was an engineering consultant. I gradually rose up the ranks as the as the company developed, finishing as Chief Engineer when I left at 34 to begin training at Wycliffe Hall,Oxford for the ministry - best thing that ever happened to me, as by God's grace, as it opened new worlds to me, after a rather parochial upbringing. I was widowed at 30, Stephen 6 and Nicholas 3. Our house belonged to the company, pepercorn rent of 5 pounds a month, rent & rates and had a company car. Your dad lent me a battered racing bike for our 2 years in Oxford - no nuts on the front wheel so if you lifted the front wheel it dropped off - it helped me to keep my head down!. Served time as a curate in the parish of Bagnall with Bagnall Stoke for 4 years plus, in charge of St Chad's Bagnall. Then over 8 years in charge of Christ Church Northcourt in the parish of Abingdon - a 13/14 century Tithe barn converted to a modern church in 1961 - the same year I was called to the Ministry. Moved to Isral in early 1976 to work for CMJ as Director Stella Carmel Conference Centre up on the Carmel Range - from 1980 to 1984 I was CMJ Israel Director and Rector of Christ Church in the old city (in Jerusalem) - returning to the UK in 1984. Over 7 years in Earl's Court, initially as Vicar of St Luke's Redcliffe Sq and then taking on St Jude's Courtfield Gardens as well. Moved to New Forest, house for duty church, at 65 in 1992. Retired for the 2nd time after 5 plus years to present address. Still preaching a lot, sometimes 2/3 times a month.

The Price family to me was not a close one - it's only in later years we have somewhat drawn together. After the war (brothers) John and Jeffrey took over the shop but Jeff went "down under" in the 1950's and John went into the Police, mother selling the business. A shame in some ways as I could have had a TESCO brother perhaps. To understand family behavioural patterns. Father was manager of Blakemore grocers, but having been refused a payrise he handed in his notice and immediately opened up No.80 two doors away, taking some customers with him!"

"Your grandma was the second child of John Henrick and Florence Gertrude Price - nee Jenks. My cousin Ernest traces our family name back to a marriage in CLAVERLEY of a James Aprice alias welshman in 1631. Our parents were married at St Mark's Chapel Ash - mother's parish church - November 4th 1906. Their first child Nancy born Oct 3 1909 died after a few months. All are interred at Penfields churchyard. Our father bought premises and set up shop as a master grocer at 80 Worcester St, near Wolverhampton town centre. Your grandma Mary wasa born there, as were the rest of the family, on Oct 4 1911. Mother had 5 more daughters, Cora and Eileen - still alive at 88 & 87 (2003): Betty, Joan and Kitty deceased. Then followed John, Jeffrey and myself (my name chosen by sister Mary). According to Cora, Mary wandered out of the shop at 18 months and was eventually found at the Police station by my parents. She and all the girls attended St Peter's Collegiate School. Very bright, she passed the 11-Plus, top of the school, but instead of going to Wolverhampton High School, she stayed at St Peter's as father felt he could not afford to send the rest of the girls there if they passed in due course! Mary was MAY QUEEN one year, quite an honour in those days! Leaving school, Mary studied typing shorthand and book-keeping at Carter's College gaining a cert for 140 Wp in shorhand. Her first job was with the Electricity Board in Darlington St, then moving on the GWR railway offices, attending Art School in the evenings.

Our parents moved the family en-bloc to worship at St Jude's Tettenhall Rd (a sister evangelical church of St Mark's) in the mid-twenties - I am the only one of the family baptised there in 1927. Mary became a christian in her mid-teens and remained a deeply committed believer throughout her life. Anthony (my dad), Peter and Julian (my uncles) have followed their mother's footsteps of faith. Your grandparents were married at St Jude's.

- Archie's (my grandfather) father being the church verger - they lived in Larches Lane, in the parish. Later they (my grandparents) moved to 29 Oxbarn Ave, worshipping at St Phillip's Penfields.Mary (my grandmother)helped a lot at St Joseph's Merry Hill, a daughter church. Leading such as Mothers' Union and being an active speaker.

All the girls were taught to play the piano, but Mary was the best and often accompanied her father at the piano when he sang at evening get-togethers - he fancied himself as a "Richard Tauber" with his tenor voice. Mary read widely and was very forthright in stating her views and opinions - she liked nothing better than writing to newspapers far and wide. She wanted the best for her boys and sent them off for elocution lessons. After Julian was born Mary, as a career girl went back to work and for many years until retirement, taught shorthand etc at the Wolves College of Further Education in Paget Rd. As a keen motorist, she gave her garageman no peace. When Peter and Di worked in East Africa, she & Archie went out a couple of times to visit them. Haing friends in the missionary supporter (esp Overseas Missionary Fellowship & churches ministry amongst jewish people) came out to Israel in 1977, when Barbara and I were there.

When Barbara and I were living at 55 Uplands Ave, Finchfield in the late 50's, (my grandparents) were living close by (at No.37).

When your grandfather died, Mary bought a flat in Connaught Rd by the West Park. She offered visited Bushbury churchyard where Archie's ashes were interred and began worshipping Bushbury church - another keen evangelical/charismatic church. Towards the end of her life, she alternated between St Jude's and Bushbury church. (Grandad) was always teasing Mary at her "addiction" to HOME DOCTOR. When I first knew Archie, he was working for Coley & Swinterton, electrical engineers, then moved on to be in charge of maintenance at BEATTIES the large department store. When I was chief engineer at Stordy Engineering Archie worked under my jurisdiction erecting and commissioning our equipment all over the country and on to the continent (Poland).