Rev. Pilott's Ministry at Mount Tabor

In December 2001, our internet guestbook was signed by Paul Pilott, the son of the late Rev. Victor Pilott, minister of our church from 1940 to 1943. Paul wondered if anyone had any recollections of his parents during their time at Mount Tabor.

Jack Hardwick kindly wrote the article below which was also sent to Paul.

As promised, I have gathered together some memories of Rev. Pilot's ministry in Brimington, assisted I might add, by Norma Greenwood, Geoff Thompson and Mervin Stubbins, who incidentally tells me he attended Rev Pilot's wedding in London.

I was in my mid-teenage years when he arrived in Brimington. I am told his first lodgings were on Brimington Common, the exact location is not known but soon afterwards he moved to Station Road and lodges with a Mrs Bonnett.

Those young people, a little older than I, were much more involved with him, but of course, his stay here, being wartime (1940-43) most of the young men of 18 and upwards were called to the forces, and by the time they were demobilised he had moved on, to Mosborough I believe.

I remember him as being a young man full of vitality and enthusiasm, which endeared him to those who could only have been a few years younger than him.

He was responsible for 5 Chapels in Brimington. 3 located in the centre of the village. Bethel was on Ringwood Road, since demolished to make way for the present Chapel on the same site, and Trinity, then referred to as the Wesleyans, now being used as the Community Centre. At the extreme south of the village is Brimington Common Chapel, still in use, and at the extreme North, our own Chapel Mount Tabor. So that from 5 Chapels in Rev. Pilotts ministry we are now reduced to 3.

Looking back it seems amazing that he could manage to care for all five, with Sunday Services plus midweek Christian Endeavour meetings along with his pastoral duties etc bearing in mind his only form of transport was a bicycle.

In addition to his ministerial duties he was instrumental in forming the Free Churches Youth Club. Young people from all 5 chapels being eligible to join, which in those days was a considerable number. The Club originally met in Zion schoolroom but later moved to Trinity, at which time, young people from Lowgates, Staveley were also welcomed as members. The Club met on Friday evenings, the subscriptions being "d (old currency) per week.

As you may imagine with the numbers involved, the room was a hive of activity. When I look back at the recreational facilities provided: Table Tennis, a small snooker/billiards table, darts and a few board games, I shudder to think what today's teenagers would think, and can imagine them being scornful of the easy way in which we were amused in those days. The centrepiece was the piano which always had a crowd round it singing. We always had two or three pianists on hand to keep the music flowing, apart from the minister, there was Geoff Thompson and Fred Wood (from Lowgates).

Rev. Pilott himself was an accomplished pianist, although Geoff tells me he did not read music, but after hearing a tune he could play it to perfection.

In addition to his other work among the young people he found time to organize a concert party from among the members. The concert party were called "The Gay Greys", the young men wore white shirts and grey flannels and the girls had white blouses and grey skirts. There was a good cross section of entertainers among them: comics, soloists, elocutionists and instrumentalists on various instruments, and sketches performed by party members. One item that sticks in my memory is that of Rev Pilott at the piano singing duets with Lillian Atherton, usually songs by Ivor Novello ending with "I'll see you again".

The Concert Party was a great success and performed at many chapels in the area, raising funds for those in financial difficulties. Bearing in mind is was wartime, and before the advent of television their concerts were always well attended.

During the summer months, the club had the use of a field, situated part way down Wheeldon Mill, accessed by a dirt track on the left of the hill going down. During the light nights volunteers managed to level the bumps out and constructed a tennis court, and football pitch. Norma recalls an abandoned bus on the site, which was used as a shelter during a shower and can remember sitting around eating fish and chips purchased from a local chip shop.

In addition to taking part in the work force, when he was able, Rev Pilott was also a skilful member of the football team according to Mervin Stubbins.

Easter and Whitsuntide holidays always featured youth club "hikes" into the Derbyshire countryside with the ever energetic minister in attendance (weddings and funerals permitting). The first part of this journey was by Hulleys Bus to either Baslow, Bakewell or Tideswell or any agreed point between and from then wherever the spirit took them.

Christmas Eve and New Years Eve Socials were a must, they were held in the various chapel schoolrooms in turn, and were always followed by a watchnight service in the church concerned. Here again, todays youth would ridicule the games we played on these occasions:- Spinning the Plate, The Farmer Wants a Wife, Musical Chairs, Passing the Parcel etc. all innocent and inoffensive fun, but enjoyed by all. When you consider all these activities in which Rev Pilott was actively involved, it is amazing how he managed to fit it all in.

Sadly after he left, his subsequent successors could not match his enthusiasm and charisma, and the youth activities began to go downhill. Having said that, the war intervened, members left to go into the forces and were different people when they returned, plus the fact that we were all growing older, so perhaps the criticism is a bit unfair.

One lasting result of Rev Pilotts ministry amongst us is that due to his work among the young people of that time, many lasting friendships were formed, often resulting in many happy and lasting marriages.

On reading through these recollections, I feel we were fortunate, in spite of wartime shortages and restrictions and indeed dangers, to have lived in such a close bound community within the churches and although the social life it gave us may seem rather childish and naive by todays standards, I think that the friendships formed then will have lasted longer than many formed by young folk today in the environment of the pubs and night clubs.

I may be wrong. I hope so.

Jack Hardwick