Melvyn's Corner

[Lynda asked me to copy here the short description I put in the Cyber Café in May. Here 'tis.]

I returned to the worshipping community in St Stephen Walbrook a few years ago having first come to it in the early 1960s as a volunteer working with the Samaritans. The church building was a dark and gloomy place in those days, though the vestry was buzzing with activity! I left that work around 1966/7 and transferred my "worshipping" allegiance to St Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London, warmly supporting the creation of the choral foundation there (which is still going strong). I still attend St Peter's on high days and holidays, so to speak, but I departed from the worshipping community there when it adopted an attitude towards the introduction of civil partnership legislation which I found totally unacceptable.

I live with my civil partner very near the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. I have lived there for 25 years now. During that time I spent five years abroad, but fortunately kept on my flat, returning to it once a month or so and finally in 2000.

If anyone cares about my work history they can look me up in "Who's Who", but suffice it to say that my career was in the public service and I am now well retired. Since retirement I am busier than ever, being the secretary of two small charities, the Chairman of another, and the President and webmaster of a thriving Internet heraldic association. I am a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners. I was appointed a JP in 2002 but retired from the Active List at the end of March 2009.

I am by hobby a heraldist, genealogist and ecclesiologist. I am now also a churchwarden of St Stephen Walbrook, and look forward to helping the Venerable Peter take the church forward.