Leading from the Front

The Gloucester Ward, with Church activity dating back to 1840, is one of Cheltenham Stake's oldest wards and as seen considerable change since the days when Elders Wilford Woodruff and Brigham Young preached within its boundaries. A few years ago the Bishop felt that a fresh focus on youth was necessary, so he called a new Young Men presidency with David Mason, a third generation Latter-day Saint with a lifetime of service and a full-time mission behind him; Roger Ellis, an experienced youth leader and former bishop; and Chris Aitchison, also a lifetime member and returned missionary, to serve the needs of the ward's youth.

The Young Men programme, which then consisted of only two or three boys, was on the threshold of expansion as a number of boys were to be graduating shortly from Primary. In addition, an activation programme was under way in the ward, and missionaries were working hard to bring new families into the Church. Soon there would be an opportunity to form a full deacons quorum.

Now, two years later, 17 to 20 active youth participate in the Young Men programme. It wasn't easy in the beginning to enthuse all the boys, but leaders involved the youth in helping the less fortunate. Service projects aided not only Church members but also local Church history sites such as the Gadfield Elm chapel, Benbow's farm, and the Church welfare farm. Leaders noted improvement in both dedication and spirituality among the boys and were pleased when the boys sang in sacrament meeting.

The Young Men leaders also included activities to develop the physical and spiritual needs of the boys. Activities included ice skating, camping, mountain biking, and other sports.

Many members of the Gloucester Ward have witnessed the changes that have come to the the lives of these young men. They attend meetings with enthusiasm, serve willingly, and exhibit a real desire to be an active force within their quorum. The boys come from a wide background, and many are from part-member or single-parent families who have been made to feel a part of the programme and who support their sons. - Jennifer Mason, Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake

A Gladiator

Adam Sheehan, 13, of the Newton Abbot Ward, Plymouth Stake, was chosen from 4,500 children between the ages of 9 and 14 to take part in the television programme "Gladiators - Train to Win." The episode featuring Adam was shown in January 1998. Adam had been a fan of the Gladiators for a long time before he applied to enter the show. On the application form, Adam was pleased to report that the youth programme of the Church helped to make him a well-balanced person. With his love of sports and need to keep physically fit, keeping the Word of Wisdom seemed easy. "I believe my body is stronger because of the Word of Wisdom," says Adam. "And I have no desire to injure my body with drinking, smoking, or drugs."

At Exeter University, Adam was required to take a physical test, followed by a mental test. After his success at Exeter he had to attend a rehearsal in Birmingham, were he met the other contestants. Andi Peters, the producer, and the Gladiators gave him the nickname "The Fly" because he climbed the wall so fast. Despite being nervous, Adam won his heat with his partner from Birmingham.

Adam is grateful for the 200 supporters, many of them young people from the Wandsworth Stake, who turned up to watch him. John Anderton, the presenter of the programme, said this group of people were the best he had seen.

Adam is first counsellor in the deacons quorum and attends King Edward VI College in Totnes, Devon. - Dot Yabsley, Newton Abbot Ward, Plymouth Stake

Historical Trek

One hundred fifty members of the Cheltenham Stake participated in a pioneer trek from Ledbury, in Herefordshire, to Dymock, in Gloucestershire - a distance of six and a half miles. Ledbury has historic connections to Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff, and Dymock is where William Pitt was baptised in 1841. Pitt was choirmaster of the parish choir before joining the LDS Church, and later became the conductor of the Nauvoo Brass Band, It was Dymock also that Pitt's sister, Mary, was healed. She had been crippled since birth, but following a blessing by Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards, she threw away her crutches and walked down the street, much to the astonishment of the villagers.

For those taking part in the trek, it was an exciting time. The trail wound its way from Ledbury across sweet-smelling hay meadows, orchards laden with fruit, and leafy lanes. They were accompanied by four handcarts, a large goat, two horses, a dog, and even a hen sitting on eggs.

The trek, organised by Wayne Gardner of the Hereford Ward and led by Warwick Kear of the Yate Ward, helped everyone feel in a small way the spirit of the pioneers. - Pamela Gardner, Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake

A Pioneer Walk

To mark the 150th anniversary of the pioneers, Sister Pam Brogan, 61, of the Cheltenham Ward, Cheltenham Stake, undertook a 150-mile commemorative trek.

The trek commenced at Thames Barrier and proceeded through many places of historical interest, including Greenwich, with its maritime connections, and the City of London, with its wealth of historical buildings. Sister Brogan then followed the Thames out into the beautiful English countryside, past Windsor, through the Oxfordshire hills, and thence to the Cotswold Hill's pretty villages.

Despite sustaining leg problems that flared up early in the walk, Pam carried on for the three-week trek after receiving medical assistance and a priesthood blessing. She found many opportunities along the way to speak to passers-by about the gospel and the reasons for her trek, and they showed much interest. After passing through the Cotswold towns and villages, she ended her trek near the spot where Elders Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and Willard Richards met in prayer at British Camp on the Malvern Hills.

The trek brought not only occasional loneliness, fear, and physical suffering, but also pleasure and feelings of closeness to the Lord. Sister Brogan also felt she'd gained a deeper insight into the sufferings and challenges of the pioneer as they travelled to the Salt Lake Valley. "An experience like this brings our own journey through life sharply into focus. By overcoming our trials and enduring to the end, we will also arrive safely," said Pam.

A mother of five children and grandmother of seven, Sister Brogan serves as Primary music director, ward music chairman, and family history centre volunteer. - Pamela Gardner, Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake

Recollections from the Life of Douglas Davis

Douglas Davis, patriarch of the Bristol Stake, was born in 1914, the year World War I began. Although only four years old at the time, he recalls the celebrations that followed the armistice in 1917 and later the general strikes of 1921 and 1926. At the time, he was living in Lydney in the Forest of Dean, an area of coal and iron mines and steel and tin-plate works. Unemployment and poverty afflicted the foresters and free miners. "It was not the promised land fit for heroes," recalls Brother Davis. It was at this time when he had his first introduction to politics.

In 1930 the family moved to Bristol, where he trained as a chef and joined the Boy's Brigade and a boxing club. Boxing, riding motorcycles, and horse racing were his great passions, and he spent many hours engaged in one or another of these pursuits. During this period, Douglas became more involved in politics, helping in the political campaigns of Sir Stafford Cripps, his local MP, who became Chancellor of the Exchequer and the British Ambassador to Moscow. He also helped may other well-known politicians of the day. In later years he stood as a local councillor.

Douglas met and married his wife, Kathleen, in 1938. During the 1930's he worked as a chef for Woolworths and, to improve his career, travelled with his wife to Europe. In 1940 he joined the Royal Ordinance Corps and was stationed at Woolwich, London, where he experienced the full force of the London blitz. He trained in tank recovery before being sent to Africa and Italy.

While in Rome, Douglas and his colleagues had an audience with Pope Pius XII. Following five years of active service, he returned to Woolworths. In all, he spent 50 years employed in the catering trade.

Douglas joined the British Legion in 1946 and became a poppy-day organiser, a task which he continued for 40 years. He became vice-president, then chairman, and he is now president of the Kingswood and Hanham branch, one of the largest in the west country. "My main aim in the Legion has been to apply the motto of 'Service not Self' by giving assistance to those in need," says Brother Davis.

Douglas continued to travel in Europe and America. In 1962 he was invited to join the British War Veterans of America. While in New York in 1965, he and his wife attended the World's Fair as VIP visitors. It was here that he made his first contact with the Church. They visited the Mormon Pavilion and listened to Elder L. Tom Perry and watched the film, Man's Search for Happiness. The two discussed the principles they heard but took their investigation no further.

In February 1966 two elders knocked on the Davises' door during a heavy snowstorm on an extremely cold night. The Davises were subsequently baptised on 10 April 1966, and a year later they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, accompanied by many of the missionaries who had taught them the gospel. The Bristol Stake was formed on 29 April 1973 by Elder Mark E. Peterson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who called and set apart Brother Davis as patriarch.

Sister Davis died in 1986, and in 1989 Brother Davis married his second wife, Valerie.