My Story: local people have their own stories to tell
Irene says I was brought up to go to the local Methodist Chapel, which was Netherhall Road Chapel in Doncaster. It has been turned into flats in recent years. Both my parents had served in church choirs in earlier years and my brother, John, and I never questioned about Sunday School twice every Sunday. John, who is four years older, was a boy soprano and sung better than me. Since then, John and his wife Anne went as missionaries to North Africa. After their son was born, I went to stay with them for three weeks in Tunis. They are now retired and their son and two daughters are all married and also know the Lord as their Saviour. God has been good to me and is always faithful. Since coming to know Him, I have found my singing voice and have sung many a gospel song as a solo. In 1978 there was a Way to Life Crusade in Doncaster for three weeks and I joined the choir. When the crusade ended the choir wanted to carry on singing together. We sang all around Doncaster and district. We were known as the South Yorkshire Crusade Choir and travelled all over the country seeing others come to know the Saviour through our ministry of song and words. We had wonderful fellowship, which lasted over twenty-five years until our conductor became ill and we agreed to fold. Throughout the years, I have suffered on and off with Crohn's Disease (which wasn't diagnosed for five years). God has brought me through over eight operations, including cancer. I cannot tolerate strong painkillers due to being allergic to them, so I cry to the Lord for help and He answers my prayers! God has given me a good husband in Graham and we are very happy. We have been in a position to travel far afield. In 2003 we went to Arizona and visited the Grand Canyon (which was awesome) and other places. Two years later, in 2005, we went to Tennessee and met a few country and western singers; we enjoy this type of music. We have been on the continent in Europe. I used to do line dancing, until my arthritis got bad. Now we both enjoy playing bowls, and have been able to come to church every week and really enjoy it all. I can really recommend Jesus as Saviour to all. 
When John went to Sheffield University he became a born-again Christian. He and fellow Christian students started a Christian youth fellowship which grew in numbers and was able to fill the City Hall and the Memorial Hall. He prayed for me and invited me to go to one of these meetings, which were held fortnightly. I was about sixteen years old by now. At my first visit, after an appeal at the end I went forward, though not really understanding - as I thought that I was always a Christian. I was counselled by the matron of an orthopaedic hospital who encouraged me to learn verses of scripture on a regular basis.