‘What’s your religion?’ a fellow once said.
So I climbed in me wellies and I kung-fu’d his head.
‘Don’t be angry!’ he cried. ‘I’m not starting a nark.
Do you worship at Anfield or Goodison Park?’

In My Liverpool Home (Pete McGovern)

From the start, on hearing Kev speak, it was impossible to fail to identify the city of his birth.

At one of the earliest occasions on which I had the privilege to meet him, I asked Kev the question from Pete McGovern’s song (above). Straight away came back the answer – “Anfield”.

We first met Kev when he came along to an open day at St Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, in January 2023, when he visited us in the tower, and decided that he would like to learn how to ring bells. After a few training sessions, he was able to join us for practices, and subsequently for ringing before services on Sundays – services which he also regularly attended as a worshipper.

Sadly for all of us, this situation was destined not to continue for a great length of time, as failing health necessitated Kev being admitted to hospital in the summer, then subsequently into the LOROS hospice in Leicester. He passed away at the end of May, 2024, and will be sadly missed by all his friends at St Botolph’s.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his partner Emma, and children Emily and Jack.

RIP Kev – “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Peter Soar – June 2024