No graceful ageing!

I am proud to be a member of the “Baby Boomer” generation – along with people like Sir Paul McCartney, (ex) President Clinton, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. We were young adults in the 1960’s and we’re NEVER going to grow old gracefully!

1950’s child

When I was growing up in the English countryside of the 1950’s and 1960’s it was quite common for people to go to church on a Sunday whether or not they had a real belief in God. Of course there were some who did attend out of a genuine faith. However, for many it was seen as a mark of good citizenship to go to church. For others it was seen as an insurance policy – “just in case there is a God”. . My parents were part of this culture, and we went to church most Sundays. I often found it quite boring!

When I was about three my mother was the organist and my father was a bell-ringer. I used to sit with my mum on the organ seat during services. Once when I told my mum how sad I felt on seeing a picture of Jesus on the cross on the front cover of some organ music I could see she was embarrassed! You weren’t supposed to take these things too seriously!

During my childhood, by going to church and attending a church school, I got to know a lot about God, Jesus, and the stories in the Bible. These things were part of my culture, and I accepted them, along with long hot summers, bike rides in the country, visiting relatives, playing with friends, and generally enjoying a happy and settled childhood.