Be Idle, Be Happy!

Tony Taylor

I migrated from Oldham into Saddleworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire at the age of 7, which was about the time I started following Yorkshire cricket! Since then most of my life has been lived on this side of the hill. In 1970 Rosemary and I moved to Barnoldswick and 8 years later to Skipton. We have three sons of whom none are married and the eldest still lives at home at the age of 39!

In April 2007 I was called to be the Minister of Idle Baptist Church and see membership of Rotary as being part of and helping the community that is Idle together with the surrounding area.

For 40 years I was an Insurance Broker until taking early retirement about 3 years ago.

1981 was a pivotal year as I began training for Ministry and joined the Rotary Club of Colne.

I was ordained in 1986 and began ministry at Salterforth in West Craven. This was non-stipendiary as I was still employed full time in insurance broking.

I was asked to become Moderator at Earby and in 1997 and later called to become Minister, dividing my time equally between Ministry of the two churches and Insurance Broking until in 2007 I came to Idle. As an introduction I did walk from Earby to Idle, at a leisurely pace over three days largely along the banks of the Liverpool and Leeds Canal.

Rotary has played a significant part in my life now for 28 years. After time in Colne I sought and was granted a free transfer to Barnoldswick & Earby. During my time in Colne I was twice prevailed upon to act as President and also served on the District 1190 Foundation Committee. It is Foundation which has been my main passion in Rotary over the years. Indeed in 2005 I was fortunate enough to lead a Group Study Exchange team to District 4750 in Brasil and have since been back twice with my wife to visit my Brasilian friends and see how some of the money we raised as a team was being spent, especially that to fund the kitting out of a nursery in the favella on the edge of the town of Padua. During my years in Barnoldswick I also served as President and visited our twin club in Mayen, Germany.

Last year I went to Obambo, a small deprived village in the far west of Kenya, near Lake Victoria to help the training of local Pastors. It was a humbling experience to live with them, without running water or electricity. But it was also very motivating to see these people simply pick up a bible and go out into the world to make disciples and plant churches and only later begin any form of training.

I am passionate about helping those who cannot help themselves and act as a Street Pastor with City Lights Bus in Bradford. Separately I help with the Churches Pavilion at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Finally I am a passionate Oldham Athletic fan and season ticket holder of many years, whilst in Summer I can often be seen watching either Keighley Cougars or Bradford Bulls!

                                                                                                                    Tony Taylor 13.07.09.