News
Debut novel first of three
A WRITER has seen his first book published – and Song of Squall is just the start for Jonathan Bush. The 27-year-old’s novelwas pub-
lished on July 1 and is described as a “breathtakingly beautiful, hu- morus fantasy adventure”. Orginally from Manchester, Jonathan lives in the villagewith his wife Rebecca and three daughters. He said: “It is a
tale of fun and ad- venture, love and loss, and coming of age. It’s inspir-
ing to young readers who will see themselves in themain protagonist – a boy who comes from nothing and is destined for greater things.” Jonathan, of SuttonValence, says
he is inspired by the Discworld se- ries by Terry Pratchett and come- dies like Monty Python, and the book’s cover has been designed by Alyn Spiller, who has produced work for Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. This novel is the first of a three-
part series, and Jonathan is already halfway through the next instal- ment.
downsmail.co.uk
Achange of scene for outspoken vicar Steve
LIKE many modern vicars, Rev Steve Hughes had a life before the church. For him, itwas nine years as a fin-
gerprinting expert with Lancashire Police at the scenesof crimes,gaining unique insights intoman’sdarker re- cesses. But his chance to read theology at
Durham, one of theworld’s greatest universities in that field – currently bettered only by Oxford and Har- vard – was the answer to his own, personal calling. Notbadfor ablokewholeft school
with two O-levels, neither of which was in religious education. That was 36 years ago, and the
journey that led him to a clutch of rural parishes inKent – and anMBE along theway – has come to an end, for now. RevHughes (67) said: “Iwillmiss
it here – and all the people, but my wife has been offered a good job in north Wales, so we will have the prospectof lookingout across Snow- donia, whichwon’t be bad.”
Rev Steve Hughes is off to pastures new in northWales
Rev Hughes, who retires as rural
dean for the parishes of Otham, Leeds, Langley and Broomfield and Kingswood this month, has never been afraid to voice his opinions, usuallythroughhismonthlycolumn in the parish newsletter. Be it the state of church finances, archaic language in churches or
fallingattendances,RevHugheswas not short of something to say. One recent column said: “This,
sadly, is a familiarpictureovermany partsof theChurchofEnglandandif itwere any commercial business, the Church of England would long ago have been shut down in a significant number of places.” Moreoften,RevHughes reflectson
life as a modern, country minister and the pressures in brings. In the latest parish magazine, he
writes: “Many people these days simplydon’t realise thebreadthof ac- tivities that the vicar and church members are involved in for, and within, the community.” He cites church services, wed-
dings, funerals,baptisms, schoolgov- ernorships and home and hospital visits as examples. RevHughes concludes: “We strive
to put the church at the heart of the community,butwewillonlysucceed in our mission if we can persuade more from the community to be at the heart of the church.”
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10 Maidstone East August 2018
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