KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU “Knowing Me, Knowing You…” is a way of sharing with each other and finding out more about our church family. Mike Cosser is our interviewer/researcher and editor, and this time he has searched out and probed into Tony and Connie May’s life..... I was thrilled when Connie and Tony gave their consent to be my first 'victims', as I felt God had put them on my heart. Thanks to them also for seeing me at such short notice. We met at their house, and they both had colds, as did I, so we were a right trio. They have been married for 22 years and got married at Quinton Park. Additionally they are both 50 this year so are treating one another to a trip to Venice. They have always lived in their house in Seneschal Road, and it previously belonged to Barry Cox's family, and is where Barry grew up. There is a sun lounge, which was put up for Barry's parent's silver wedding, and it is still there. Connie's mum has lived with them for almost 19 years, and has her own independent self-contained attached house area, which gives all parties their independence, but company. Connie's sisters live in Coventry, and they can visit their mum, so the arrangement seems to work well, all round. Connie was born in Edinburgh, to a Scottish dad and a German mum. After school in Scotland and Coventry, Connie was in the Wrens for over 3 years, based in Scotland and Yeovil, and then she worked with her mum and sister in a Post Office in Walsgrave for 12 years. Mum got arthritis, and retired, and Connie and her sister were not keen to take over the business. Connie then moved to work for Coventry Building Society, where she is now a Mortgage Underwriter. Tony is a Coventry kid, and his parents still live in Walsgrave. He left School at 16, to become a British Gas Engineer; he went on to be a technician, supervisor, and manager. However, he then had a career change, and is now a lecturer in Gas and Plumbing at City College. Tony likes the hours, and it enables him to meet up with Connie for coffee at times, as they both work in town. Connie first attended QP when she arrived in Cheylesmore at 14, and left when she went into the Wrens. She went back before she met Tony, and they attended as a couple before they got married. In 1984 Connie was baptised, and she is now on the Finance Team, the Friends of QP, and is our Fundraising coordinator. Tony is a graduate of the Y and Alpha courses, and attends the Monday cell group. He helps with the Sound System, and with counting the Offering after Services. Together they enjoy travelling holidays, skiing, and walking, especially if there are cups of tea and scones en route. Tony used to run, and play football, squash and tennis. Connie still does aerobics and Scottish dancing. They began Ballroom Dancing 2 months ago in preparation for a Dinner Dance at Westonbirt, on 13th May, to celebrate both of their 50th birthdays. They cherish a joint hobby. On her faith journey, Connie told me that her involvement in Church life has slowly deepened, and that she has drawn closer to God as she has come to feel part of his Church Family. She likes the ways in which different people serve the church, and having reviewed her talents, felt able to serve in the financial ministry of the Church. She now feels that lots of faith issues make sense to her, and she cherishes her personal belief. Tony has come from a non-Church going family, and believes God to be the Creator. Like many of us, he is still on a journey of trying to understand it all. He appreciates his recently acquired Gideon New testament and Psalms, and uses the Daily Readings section as a guide. He also has recently enjoyed CS Lewis's book "Mere Christianity". And so I departed, leaving this unique, precious and loved couple. Rather like Venice, where they are just about to visit, they need to know how much we love and cherish them. Well done, both, well done, and thanks.