Have you always been involved in the church?

I have been involved with the church from an early age. I  attended Sunday school at Irving Parish Church and was in the 2nd Falkirk Boys Brigade. During my late teens I attended with friends a youth group based in Larbert Baptist Church. I have been a member of Falkirk Old & St. Modans for 36yrs, joining in 1973 after I met Jennifer who was a member at that time.

How have you served the church?

My earliest involvement was helping to collect waste newspapers and deliver them to John Browns yard in Slammanan Road.

I became an elder in January 1996 and apart from carrying out the usual elder’s duties, I have spent a great deal of my time working on the Building Management Team.

Over the last three years or so, since Bill Brown stepped down as Church Officer, I have been responsible for opening the church on a Sunday morning and getting it set up for the service. I am also on hand to open up the St. Modans Hall on Saturday mornings for coffee days etc.

Now that we are back in the town centre building, what do you think of the refurbishment of the building?

I think the refurbishment of the church went very well. It was a great effort by the entire congregation to help raise the funds for the work to be carried out. Hopefully we won’t stand still and will continue to develop the building to meet future needs.

Tell me about your family

I was born on 26th September 1952, the youngest of three; my older brother and sister are twins. I married Jennifer on 22nd June 1974 and have two grown up daughters, both of whom have flown the nest. The eldest Paula gets married next May.

Have you always lived in Falkirk?

I was born and brought up in that quaint suburb of Falkirk called “Camelon” and have lived in and around the Falkirk area ever since.

What are your other interests?

Apart from the church, my main interest is following the ups and down of Falkirk Football Club, whom I have supported since my dad lifted me over the turnstile at Brockville! I usually try and relax by doing cryptic crosswords and suduko puzzles.

And what comes to mind as special times when you think back over the time you have been attending the church?

Firstly it would be my wedding day, where the wedding was conducted by not one but two ministers - James Paterson and Gordon Mathews. And also the baptisms of my two daughters. The most memorable times were the service when I was ordained as an elder and also the first time I attended a Christmas Eve service at Hallglen with the carol singing and drama. It was a wonderful feeling and I haven’t missed one since.

What does your faith mean to you?

The church to me is a way of life, a way of helping me live a Christian  lifestyle; enjoying the fellowship of worship and also working with others to improve the status of the church. I rely on my faith to guide me along the way. I believe the standards set out in the bible are what we should strive to adhere to. My faith helps me deal with the highs and lows of daily life.

What are your views on the future of the church?

I think the church can offer a new style of worship, which will hopefully attract new members. We need to listen to people to find out what would attract them back into church. People’s lifestyles have changed and I feel the church needs to adapt more quickly  to cope with these changes. It needs to reach out and to get people to understand the way worship has changed. Our church can become a vibrant centre of worship in the town centre and beyond.