On Sunday 25th June 2023 we celebrated with Rev Les Judd at Hedge End Methodist Church along with members from Woolston Methodist Church and his friends and family. It was 50 years since his ordination.
Les had completed his two year probationary period in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire and was ordained at the Newcastle Conference. Rev Donald Lee MBE was president and Dr Kenneth Grete was secretary. His ordination service took place in a packed church in Consett Co Durham.
Les led a wonderful service explaining what he had learned in his 50 years of ordained ministry and we sang some lovely traditional hymns. Rev John Hughes presented Les with a card from the circuit and Jennie, Senior Steward also said a few words and presented a card to Les and flowers to Alison.
Following on from the service tea and cake were served in the church. 50 guests then joined Les and Alison in the hall for a roast beef dinner and some very amazing puddings (the homemade chocolate eclairs were particularly delicious). A big thank you to our catering team who made this possible and who worked very hard on what was a very hot day, especially in the kitchen.