17 July 2009
Our dear friend Jim Breton has recently died and gone on to a better place, Jim in many ways, made the people he met feel special as he greeted and chatted to them. We dedicate this month’s Who’s in the Pew to Jim with some extracts from his own Who’s in the Pew January 2008 and the comments written in the church at the Sunday morning service after his funeral.
St. Cyriac’s has an abundant mixture of generations within it’s congregation; it’s in the mature part of our fellowship that we find this month’s Who’s in the Pew, Jim Breton, aged 90 is a wonderful witness to our Saviour Jesus Christ, as he continues to stand up in church to do the readings at the morning services and by singing in the choir.
Jim’s words:- I started the Christian Union at Lackham College around this time and in those days I lived at Semington in a mobile home and would travel to work in my beloved three wheeler car Reliant Robin. I loved travelling along the lanes in those days ; there was a straight piece of road where my Robin would achieve speeds of up to 40 mph!
There was a time when I used to mow the grass at St. Cyriac’s and during this period I met my future wife Joyce at King John’s Hunting Lodge. She would bring me some cakes and we got on so well that we started going out. We were married at St. Cyriac’s in 1970 and had a very happy life together. Joyce was a Methodist and we enjoyed worshipping at many different churches. I would take services at some of these churches when required. After 20 years of marriage, my wife died in Melksham and I miss her still.
Note:- Jim was a Lay Reader at St. Cyriac’s.
What do you enjoy doing in your retirement?
I love talking to people in the Abbey grounds and also to visitors we have at church. I ask them where they come from and try to tell them something about Lacock. I enjoy visiting people in Care Homes; I go with Sally and sometimes take presents too. It’s good to see people being well looked after and I know they love to see visitors , especially Sally. I’ve done a bit of acting in my time with Drama Groups and I’ve always enjoyed singing. I think Lacock is a wonderful place to live, and village life suits me. Although I’m 90, I still have a future and beyond that, because of my faith in the Lord Jesus. I’m sure the gates of Heaven will be wide open to welcome me when I get there.
When asked about St. Cyriac’s services Jim said this.
The young people and children who come to St. Cyriac’s are a wonderful encouragement to us all. I believe it shows God at work in our church and for that I give Him thanks.
Have you a piece of scripture you value and would like to tell us about?
Isaiah Ch. 40 vv1-5 is my piece of scripture. I’m an Isaiah fan, I think he was such a straightforward prophet, he told it as he heard it.
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling, “ in the desert prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low, the rough ground shall be made level, and ragged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Here are the comments written about Jim:-
Jim was walking down the church path, when some young children rushed up to him. He turned to me with a lovely smile and said, “ I baptised them.” He was truly happy and proud I felt humble beside him.
“Marvellous “
Always a cheery face, smile and greeting.
A light shining with Jesus’ love.
Jim was a true friend.
He always checked up on my university life. He was so thoughtful and I loved his advice on sport! I will miss his happy welcome and ability to make me laugh.
Jim was genuine with a simple faith and true concern for his fellow beings.
I always loved to hear Jim’s message on our answer phone. He never quite got the hang of how to leave a message and would end up trying to talk to me!
A good man, a true and joyful friend.
Having been on the Lacock Players with Jim my memories are mostly fun and enjoyment.
Always a warm smile, a hearty laugh and a kindness and presence never to be forgotten.
A special person.
What can I say, a marvellous and wonderful man.
A gentle man.
A fantastic man who was always smiling! “ Wonderful, You are all wonderful” is the quote I will remember him by.
I remember Jim saying at a church AGM a few years back that he didn’t mind what they did in the churchyard as long as there was going to be a place for him!
Jim was a very nice man.
When we moved to the area, Jim made us feel part of the community, as if we had lived here all our lives
