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My call to preach goes back to my days as a medical student when briefly I was On Note but unready to take on the study and commitment at that time. An opportunity arose 9 years later to resume Local Preacher studies when I returned from 2 years as a medical officer at Nixon Memorial Hospital, Sierra Leone. I had some months doing locum work before taking up my present job as a General Practitioner in Reepham and I could devote more time to the LP course. During my time abroad I had a growing conviction that education, health care and aid was not, in itself, an adequate expression of the gospel and that ought to be involved in preaching the word too. I had grave doubts about my suitability for this task but I was encouraged by my supervisor, Bill Alien, a local preacher in the Norwich circuit. It is a privilege to be a Local Preacher and lead worship in the various churches of our Circuit. The congregations are always welcoming and supportive and I especially value the prayer of the Vestry Steward before the service and the fellowship of the Local Preachers Meeting.

I never preach at patients in the surgery but the consultation often touches on matters of life and death, the quality of relationships and the nature of love. I am always amazed at how often I see the Kingdom of Heaven breaking through into the world in the most unexpected places. It saddens me that so many people ignore the Church. I think this is partly due to poor communication of the gospel by the Church and partly due to the materialism of our age which makes people think they can do without God.

My wife, Frances, is also a GP and a sound critic of my sermons and services. We have three children, Jonathan, Clare and David and we all play a part in the life of our local Methodist Church. Preparing for services has to be fitted in between all the other commitments of the week such as school runs, being on call, medical meetings, not to mention taking the dog for walks and helping to clean out the hamster and rabbit! Music is my main relaxation and I always try to play some Bach on the piano each day.

The young child is being weighed at Nixon memorial Hospital, Segbwema, Sierra Leone:
as a Medical Officer here Michael gained much from the warmth and friendship of a rural African Community