John still has the write stuff at 102

He may be 102 today, but celebrations will wait until the Rev John Garfoot has met the deadline for his latest article for Rejoice!, the West Norfolk Methodist church magazine.

John, of Kensington Road, Gaywood, also writes for the national Methodist Recorder newspaper and his latest piece, inspired by Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon about the “power of love” at the recent royal wedding, appeared in yesterday’s edition.

John continued preaching for 73 years and says he only stopped when his failing legs prevented him from climbing into the pulpit. He served as a Methodist minister, including various locations in West Norfolk, from 1946 for almost 40 years.

This Sunday, as he does every week, John will ride on his mobility scooter to attend morning service at St Faith’s Church, Gaywood, where Anglicans and Methodists worship together. A special thanksgiving service was held at St Faith’s two years ago marking his 100th birthday.

“I have always been very much an optimist and have always looked for the best in people,” said John who has two sons, Adrian, a retired GP, who he lives with, and Raymond, who, like his father, is a retired Methodist minister.

He also has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, some of whom will tomorrow attend a family birthday celebration at his Gaywood home. MLNF18PM06107