Rev. Des Bain

Chairperson

Growing up in Methodist manses, mostly in Northern Ireland, Des was appointed to Cork to complete ministerial training in 1972. He and Valerie married two years later. They have two sons, Darren and Trevor.  After ordination, he spent five years’ ministry (and trout fishing!) in West Cork, before moving to the multi-denominational churches in Limerick and Shannon where he and the congregations were enriched by ex-pats from several places and many Christian backgrounds. During the twelve years following 1986, at the Dublin Central Mission, Des participated in projects to extend DCM’s ministry for older people, which established the new care centres at Ailt an Óir and Mount Tabor.  His involvement with the Methodist Newsletter began with his appointment as Home Mission secretary in 1998.  Since retiring in 2014 he and Valerie have lived in Dun Laoghaire where, in addition to some preaching, he has learned to garden, a bit; paint, a bit less; and suffer the frustration of issue being a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur!

Don Black

Business Manager

Don Black has just taken over the position of Business Manager from Harold Baird. In a nutshell his job entails making the Newsletter financially viable while looking after the business side. Don is married to Lynda with two adult children and recently became a very proud grandfather. He is a member of Methodist Centenary in Dublin and enjoys leading their praise band in services of worship. He has two part-time roles, one as Facilities Administrator in Centenary and the other as Administrator in Eastwell Residential Home. For over 25 years he has held the post of Publications Manager for Enterprise Ireland (equivalent of Invest Northern Ireland). Along with press and communications, his responsibilities included publishing a science and technology magazine entitled Technology Ireland and a magazine for exporters entitled The Market. His sport passion is playing tennis. He is looking forward to working with the Newsletter team as all members of the team bring different experience and skills but with one united purpose.

Nigel Ewing

Circulation Manager

Nigel is a life-long member of the Methodist Church. His twin sister and he were born on the 22 September 1955. Their parents ensured that, as a family of eight, they had access to every possible Christian influence. In his boyhood he attended Omagh Methodist Church with his family, and there he met his wife Ruth (Armstrong). They have been married over 40 years and have been blessed with two daughters, Rachel and Hannah and three young grandchildren. Nigel lives in Holywood where he attends the Methodist church. He has had a variety of roles within the society and is currently Society Steward. Having retired from the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) as Examinations Print Production Manager he welcomes the opportunity to help voluntarily in the circulation and distribution of the Methodist Newsletter. He considers it a privilege.

Dr Lindsay Easson

Senior Editor

Lindsay was brought up in Dundee and became a Christian during his school years through a Crusader Bible Class near his home. He taught agriculture in Edinburgh University and completed a PhD in 1975. After a short spell teaching biology, he took up a research post in Northern Ireland in 1977 with the Department of Agriculture and based at Hillsborough, working mainly on arable crops and renewable energy. He retired in 2012. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland, he led Scripture Mission teams over many years, and was also a ski instructor at the Compass Christian Centre in Glenshee. Since joining Seymour Street Methodist Church, Lisburn, in 1977 he has been involved in many leadership roles with young people and the local church. In 1992 he married Gwyneth Hinds, also from Seymour Street, and their family of Catherine and Jack are currently settled in Newtownards and in Oxfordshire.

Gillian McDade

Editor

Gillian is originally from Carnmoney, but now lives in Ballyclare, County Antrim. Her parents attended Shankill Methodist, and she was baptised in Joanmount Methodist. The family then moved when Gillian was three and she has been a member of Glengormley Methodist ever since. She is married to Richard Hastings, and they have a fourteen-year-old daughter, Amelie. She began her career as a print journalist in 1998 and went on to work as a broadcast journalist before her role became redundant in 2017. She is now a freelance journalist, with her work having been featured in many global publications. Gillian also tutors children in creative writing, teaches English online to children in China and she also curates her own news website, South Antrim Vox. She writes brand copy and works on occasional artificial intelligence projects. Gillian is a school governor at Ashgrove Primary in Carnmoney and PTAFA Secretary at Ballyclare High School. She loves reading novels, writing, K-pop music, podcasts, running, healthy vegan food and good weather. She began working with the Methodist Newsletter in 2012 and is delighted to put her decades of journalistic expertise to use in the role of editor.

James McClure

Secretary & Board Member

James McClure lives in East Belfast with his wife Heather and daughter Miriam. Whilst not a Methodist, James has been a member of the Newsletter Board since 2022, and has recently taken on the role of secretary. James, in his day job works for the Ministries Team of MCI as Operations Administrator. This is role he has enjoyed since taking up post in 2019. Outside of work, James is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church congregation he has been a member of since birth. Aside from work and Church, James enjoys exploring National Trust properties with his family and trying to keep fit.

Laura Griffith

Board Member

Laura grew up first of all in Bangor, County Down and then the Ards Peninsula. She originally belonged to a Baptist Church but attended The Girls’ Brigade in Glastry Methodist Church. While completing the residential section of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award, she was a volunteer leader at a children’s holiday home in Portrush, run by Newtownabbey Methodist Mission and it was here that she met her husband Brian and became a fully-fledged Methodist! Laura and Brian have two grown up children, Claire and David who are both married, and they have just become grandparents for the first time to a little grandson, Daniel. Laura trained as a diagnostic radiographer and worked in the cardiac unit in Belfast City Hospital for a number of years before the family came along. She gave up ‘paid employment’ to work full time in ‘social development’ as a full time mum! During this time, she was able to carry out various roles of service in her local church, Whiteabbey Methodist and also fulfil some Connexional roles in MCI, including All Ireland secretary of MWI, a member of General Committee and Castlewellan Holiday Week, Booking Secretary. When the family was older, employment took a completely different direction and she worked part time as an exams support assistant and Chief Invigilator in Ballyclare High School for 12 years. Even though this was a well-loved job, the ‘quiet invigilating shoes’ were laid to rest, two summers ago to enjoy early retirement! She is kept busy as she has been a Methodist Local Preacher for 13 years and serves MCI on various committees as part of her role as Connexional Local Preachers’ Coordinator. Laura loves her garden, travelling with Brian, spending time with people and offering hospitality, baking, walking and capturing images of God’s wonderful creation with her camera! One of her happiest places is serving at a local Parent and Toddlers Group in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Monkstown. She has been serving on the board of the Methodist Newsletter since 2024.