Man leads in Mothers Union

A lot has changed since a branch of the Mothers’ Union was set up in a village 100 years ago — the current leader is a man.

Mr David Mellors (65) of Main Street, North Muskham, took over four years ago and is the only male group leader in the Nottingham and Southwell diocese.

The branch covers North and South Muskham.

A Candlemas service will be held today at 2pm at St Wilfrid’s Church, North Muskham, to mark the centenary.

Mr Mellors’ wife, Mrs Valerie Mellors (66) has been a member of the Mothers’ Union for nearly 40 years and is the group’s secretary.

She joined when their two daughters, Mrs Katharine Reeves (41) and Mrs Rosemary Gott (37) both of Manchester, were children.

Mr Mellors used to go to meetings with his wife and decided to join eight years ago when he retired from his job with East Midlands Electricity.

The Mothers’ Union is a worldwide organisation that aims to advance the Christian religion through family life.

Mr Mellors said he held the same views and there had been no problems with him taking on the role except that the Mothers’ Union headquarters kept sending him letters addressed to Mrs David Mellors.

Mothers’ Union is open to anyone who has been baptised as a Christian, men or women, whether or not they are parents or married. There are 3.6m members worldwide.

The Muskham group was set up in 1908 by Lady Elinor Denison of Ossington Hall and the then vicar’s wife, Mrs Frances Williams.

Mrs Mellors has records of the minutes from meetings dating back to the 1930s and said little had changed over the years.

She said when the group was formed there were more than 30 members, now there were 15.

Mrs Mellors said the organisation became less popular during the 1960s and 70s when more women started going out to work.

The branch meets three times a year at members’ houses and help at church services.

Members support work overseas and also organise holidays to Mablethorpe and Skegness for needy families in the area.

Mrs Mellors said she was pleased the group was still going strong after 100 years and enjoyed her husband being part of the organisation.

“It’s something we can do together,” she said.