v7.
Hello from the Rev John Jukes
22.11.17
It is with enormous pleasure that I write these words “hello everyone”.
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and my wife Denise. I was born in Liverpool, but we didn’t stay more than a few years in any one place mainly due to my father’s work.
At the age of 16 I discovered dance, I left school and went to Stage School. Then on to work as a Ballet Dancer with London Festival Ballet for some years, which is now called the English National Ballet. When I retired aged 26! I worked for a few different companies until I joined Anglo Beef Processors Ltd (ABP). A multinational company. I was based in Ellesmere and Shrewsbury where I worked for the next 18 years or so, leaving ABP as Head of Group IT to go to Cornwall. I worked for Cornwall Council in a number of roles including IT Account Manager for the Cornwall Fire Brigade, Information Services Group, and the Treasurers Department. My last role in Cornwall Council before ordination was to be responsible for Children Schools and Families Software including Early Years and the records of all children educated in Cornwall.
Denise was born in Manchester but brought up in Clive. Whilst we lived in Cornwall Denise spent 10 years as a Teaching Assistant in Illogan Primary School, Redruth. She was the Open the Book coordinator for a number of years and took Open the Book into four Cornish Primary Schools. Our house is often filled with music as Denise is a keen singer. Having spent nine years singing in our Church Worship Band she started a couple of Singing for Fun groups while we lived in Cornwall, and again two groups in the Diocese of Lichfield.
It was in Cornwall when I finally responded to the call to ordination which I had first felt in Rome aged 22, but that is another story. I gained a BTh (Hons) and served my title post in Saltash. We moved to the Lichfield Diocese where I served as Team Vicar in the Central Telford Parish before serving in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes. It was whilst here that I completed an MA in Liberation Theology. Until I join you in Wem, Lee Brockhurst and Weston-
We have five adult children, eight grandchildren and two dogs. We enjoy caravanning, walking in the countryside and socialising.
Both Denise and I are extremely excited to be joining you in this beautiful part of God’s world.
Yours in Christ,
John.
Reverend John Christopher Jukes BTh (Hons) MA