6 features features 7 Q: Is it OK to use The bishop’s message: ‘Trust in the Comic Sans as the main typeface for our ask the parish magazine? providence of God, whatever happens.’ Debbie Sutton, parish magazine editor, Q: How did you react when ple project their own demands Broadcasting God’s adviser St Jude’s, Southsea you heard you had EXTRACTS FROM INTERVIEW ON on clergy, which are often not ing a lively, informative publi- leukaemia? terribly helpful. ‘SUNDAY SOLENT TODAY’ A: Please don’t! Comic Sans cation full of interesting sto- A: I looked the consultant in (a typeface that looks like ries about people, photo- the eyes, then looked Sarah in very memorable and far longer Q: Anger? Q: So how can you turn this graphs and spiritual input the eyes, and I then looked than normal life. A: No, not too much of that. personal experience of the this) was invented to be used instantly looks more amateur back at the consultant, and Irritation at the small things. last six months into some- for speech bubbles in cartoon than you intended. It may be a said: “Well, that means there Q: Have you brooded about But the illness has not left me thing productive for other strips. For some reason, sub-conscious thing, but peo- are three possible outcomes. death? with “Why was it me that was Christian ministers? work across south umpteen librarians, teachers, ple gain a certain impression One that I won’t survive, one A: No. I don’t think there's ill?” because I know the A: I’d preface the reply by say- amateur signwriters and - I’m of your church - a silliness or that it’ll be early retirement, really time for that. The next human body is highly complex ing you’re not seeing a ISHOP Kenneth is selves. afraid - parish magazine edi- child-like naivete that will be and one that it’ll be back to day [after the diagnosis], I got and some people get cancer, changed personality, but the “Our listeners are not all tors decided that it looked like talking frankly at odds with the reality. work.” That kind of realism up and I wrote my funeral other people live long trouble- same Kenneth who has been churchgoers. In fact, vast num- a ‘friendly, informal’ typeface about how his Such is the backlash that has been with me from the service and I also wrote down free lives. marked by a unique experi- B bers listen who don’t go to that would fit their needs. a website has been created - word go. some notes for Sarah as to God isn't fair. I know that. ence. I want to see the Church life and faith were These things are open to church. It’s made me realise www.bancomicsans.com - to how to dispose of the books People get God wrong if they much more engaging with the opinion, but it’s instructive to affected by his six- there’s a huge appetite for matters prevent its use! Q: What has the treatment in my study, and some of my project their own view of questions that people actually note that no professional month battle against of faith beyond the walls of the Neil Pugmire, communications involved? special treasures from family - human rights onto him. Life have. graphic designer, web design- church or any denomination. I adviser (023-9282 5731 or A: Four courses of chemother- things like my grandfather’s isn’t fair. We’re equal in the If I were a nurse on the leukaemia. er, signwriter, newspaper edi- don’t think churches have begun communications@portsmouth. apy, which is a treatment to pectoral cross, because he sight of God, but we’re not the haemotology unit of the QA He talks about how he had to tor or book publisher ever to work out how to communicate anglican.org) get rid of the bad things in the was a bishop as well. There’s same in the sight of God. and were a committed face death as a reality, how he uses it, partly because It blood that are killing the blood a great sense of relief that I’d Christian, 24 hours a day I'd with people who are interested in looks like the kind of lettering wrote his own funeral service the Do you have a question for one cells. The first course of dealt with that. I hadn’t dealt Q: Has it been easy to take be wrestling with genetics - religion, but not the organised a teacher would use to help a day after he was diagnosed, and of our diocesan advisers? chemotherapy is the longest - with everything, but something six months off? this person has arrived with Church.” small child learn how to write. how he would suddenly burst into So, almost by definition, it Contact: Ask the Adviser at that was 10 days. Then the was done so that if I did die, A: Yes and no. Yes, all you can the illness and the bone mar- Tim originally became Cathedral House, St Thomas’s tears at times when he felt fragile. looks amateur. next one was eight days and that was out of the way. I do when you’re told you’ve got row test is taken and when involved after being interviewed Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2HA, The man sitting with him on Using it means your the last two were six days know what it’s like when fami- this illness is to be passive the result comes back it may by others at BBC Radio Solent, (023-9282 5731 or communicat lies are completely thrown: and take the treatment. But in the sofa holding the microphone painstaking efforts at produc- [email protected]) each. It’s pretty grim, but be more easily treatable, as it especially in the aftermath of the you’re surrounded by people what do I do about the funeral, between the chemotherapies was in my case, or less easily nods empathetically. It’s only September 11 bombings. who know the ropes. You are or what do I do about this, when I’ve felt quite strong, treatable. Squaring genetics been a few minutes since the He made a pilot programme, unique, but you’re also anoth- that and the other. and then in the last few weeks and chance with the provi- bishop met Tim Daykin, but and was then asked to take over er patient who's come in for Having done those practi- as I’ve adjusted to not going dence of God is the question Kenneth is already talking can- cal things, I then said Morning back into hospital with an the slot in February 2003. He was Earl Mountbatten Hospice THE treatment, and they know what that that whole culture is didly about how the experience of to do, and you’re entirely in Prayer from the book. I’ve said infection, I’ve felt more and wrestling with, if it has a reli- team rector of Fordingbridge in Halberry Lane a potentially terminal illness left Newport their hands. Morning Prayer and Evening more frustrated. I feel much gious faith. Too often the the New Forest at the time, but have to contain elements that will HOSPICE him permanently scarred. Isle of Wight Prayer pretty well every day, in stronger now than I did even Church presents itself as con- the Bishop of Winchester man- appeal to people across the whole PO30 2ER the hospital and also at home, two weeks ago. I know that I This is the first of a series of Tel: (01983) 529511 Q: You've devoted your life to cerned with other things which aged to find him a new position in of Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle Email: [email protected] and sometimes it’s meant a can do more, but it is one bite interviews Kenneth is doing Reg Charity No: 1039086 serving other people. How are simply not where people a city centre church, which made of Wight. So, for instance, we easy has it been allowing huge amount to me, like of the elephant each day. are. ahead of his tentative return to managing his time, as well as covered the ecumenical event in other people to serve you? Psalms that refer to counting public duties this month. The Rev Fareham held as an alternative to The Rowans Hospice the hairs on your head. Q: So you've had more time travelling, easier. A: Much easier. When you’re Q: You’re looking forward to Tim Daykin is the producer and Hallowe’en because Christians Purbrook Heath Road told you’ve got this illness and Of course, although I’m to watch TV, listen to the getting back to work in the He starts to think about his Waterlooville, Hants PO7 5RU presenter of BBC Radio Solent’s Tel: (023) 9225 0001 you suddenly find yourself full quite bald, I did actually keep radio, read novels. Has that next few weeks. Tell us what programme on a Monday. Some across the region would be won- ‘Sunday Solent Today’ pro- E: [email protected] of medicine, all you can actu- my hair - I lost my grey hair been valuable? the future holds. dates will already be in his diary – dering what to do about that Web-site: www.rowanshospice.co.uk ally do is let them get on with and then it grew again at the A: Oh yes.