50 Years Service as a Licensed Reader in the Church of England

Bill Hubbock. well-known character around the villages of Bawdrip, Cossington and Woolavington, Somerset, became a Licensed Reader (then called Lay Reader) in the church in July 1966 while he was living in Hanworth, North Hampshire. Bill is still very active in ministry today and the Eucharist held on Sunday 5 June 2016 celebrated his 50 years of service (Eucharist means Thanksgiving). The service was led by The Rt Rev Ruth Worsley Bishop of Taunton in a packed Bawdrip Church and afterwards in the Parish Hall.

After growing up in a Christian family and singing m the church choir with full Sundays of Morning Prayer Evening Prayer and Eucharists. Bill met and married his late wife Pat in September 1950.  In the 1960s they became involved in a team for a church build ng pro1ect at St George’s, Hanworth, and during this time, encouraged by the Revd. Peter Moore. Bill felt called to explore his vocation further and trained as a Lay Reader under Revd Ken Tovey in Teddington. After licensing and subsequently moving from Hanworth to Hampton, his service as a Reader was largely at St Mary’s, Old Basing with the vicar Revd. David Picton. The Archdeacon of Basingstoke during some of this time was the now Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Right Revd. Peter Hancock. After Pat’s death in 2003 and a serious road accident, to be nearer to his family Bill moved to Somerset in 2007, where he served the local three church benefice, Woolavington with Cossington and Bawdrip, alongside his Rector, The Revd. Kevin Wright.

Bill’s professional career after service in the Army during the war, was spent entirely with Air France, including periods in France and travelling world-wide as a representative of the airline. He retired in 1988. He has two daughters 4 grandchildren and 6 great­ grandchildren.

The Revd. Kevin Wright says, “Bill is extraordinary He is dedicated to his work for the churches in this benefice and a loyal servant of God and his neighbours. His faith, grounded in the Church of England, has been constant through the years and sustained him especially after the death of beloved wife. I have been here just under three years and his willingness to help has been a tremendous asset to the ministry team and me personally. I am envious of his energy, although he has some 25 years on me!

Bill retired in 2018 

Reproduced from Bills celebration Eucharist service