Book Review: Parson’s Pie by Fr Trevor Vaughan

A MOTLEY mix of merry musings makes up “Parson’s Pie” the second book penned by a former Ribble Valley vicar.

Now retired, Fr Trevor Vaughan has put pen to paper for the second time to take an amusing walk down memory lane taking in his childhood in Barnoldswick, schooldays in Skipton, and his life in the ministry serving in town and country parishes and coming across a motley mix of people along the way.

Those parishes included St Nicholas’s Church in Sabden and St Ambrose in Grindleton and you will find lots of familiar places and faces in these tales.

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The book is an easy read because it is a blend of 39 short tales and topics all contained in the “Parson’s Pie” so you can dip in and have a slice at a time if you wish.

The author has been a Church of England priest for more than 40 years, is a member of the Royal Army Chaplains Department and was padre to The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry for 20 years.

Following on from his first book “A Ministry of Nowt!” he recounts here yet more amusing tales and topics from his varied ministry among his parishioners and soldiers.

He reminisces about schooldays in Skipton, Saturday nights at the pictures, recalls his favourite toy shop in Barnoldswick and his family’s bakers shop in the town. Lots of local places and faces are brought to life in an amusing way.

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Do Vicars always wear their dog-collars? he asks. Who or what or where is Barlick? And have you chosen your funeral hymns? He walks on water with his Territorial Army flock and finds much mirth in the military. Along the way he tells short tales about the people he met along the way in Sabden and Grindleton, his family, local farmers and we hear about his love of Burnley Football Club,

It is all baked into his “Parson’s Pie” with laughter and love and seasoned with Christian relish.

The author, now retired in Ripon, continues to carry out locum duties. He is married to Ann and has four children and nine grandchildren. He has a degree in linguistics and received the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1991.

“Parson’s Pie” costs £12 and can be ordered through YPD-Books 64 Hallfield Road, Layerthorpe, York, YO31 7ZQ

(01904 431213) or email [email protected] www.ypdbooks.com