A giant among men

He was a fearless campaigner for peace, a leader of CND when it was far from popular to declare your leanings, and a tireless worker for the poor and underprivileged. He established homes for the destitute and was a lifelong supporter of National Children's Homes. The list of his good works seems endless - a Christian Socialist in the true meaning of the word.

He was a great preacher who never tired of proclaiming the good news that "Jesus was Lord and Saviour who comes to bring salvation to all who hear and believe".

He was not a conformist by any means, even though he was elected by the Methodist people to lead them as President. Wherever he went he drew the crowds to hear him - for they recognised an extraordinary HUMBLE man who seemed to understand their needs and who came out into the open air to be with them, "where they were" - a lesson perhaps to those of us who are happier proclaiming our faith from the comfortable sanctuary of our church buildings.

He never failed to attend the Annual Methodist Conferences. 1991 was the memorable year when the Conference came to the Victoria Hall, Bolton.

Although crippled with arthritis, he duly arrived at the Knowsley Street entrance having been driven from London by an old friend who was a retired cockney taxi driver - Peter Terry.

"No need for any fuss," he said, "just lend me your arm, we'll sit at the back." And so we did, but it wasn't long before the word went through the Conference that Donald Soper had arrived - at the earliest convenient moment, the President announced that he was delighted that one of our past presidents, Lord Soper, had come to the Bolton Conference. This was greeted by prolonged applause (not usually allowed at Conference).

He insisted that we process with the rest of the Conference to the Town Hall at lunch time but asked me to take him to the rear of the Market Hall where, with Dr Leslie Griffiths, an outdoor meeting had been arranged, even though he was obviously in considerable pain.

It was a remarkable meeting which attracted a large crowd, remarkable because of the large number of Bolton folk who came to greet him privately.

They came to express their thanks for some act of kindness he had done, some word of comfort they had received, some stimulating word of faith they had from his lips.

It was a wonderful day which I shall never forget, not because I had been in the presence of a GIANT among men - a peer of the Realm - an outstanding church leader, but because one of the Lord Jesus's faithful apostles asked me to assist him be lending him my arm and expressed such gratitude for the hospitality which my wife, Eva, was privileged to offer.

Reg Parry

Bromwich Street, Bolton

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