In August 2022, a former member of the Stockton Unitarian congregation and former President of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, Mike Tomlin, passed away – below is his order of service. He was a great asset to our movement and his community, tirelessly working to support his congregation and the Unitarian movement, and also working hard for social justice in Stockton – when he wasn’t spending time with his family.

Louise Reeve remembers: “I met Mike through my membership of the Northern Unitarian Association, where I served as Newcastle upon Tyne Unitarians’ representative whilst he was the NUA President. What struck me first was not his great knowledge of Unitarianism, which was vast, but his unfailing good cheer and kind nature. He was truly a good man.”

Dr. Barry Thomas remembers: “Mike will of course be remembered for the significant contributions he
made to the Unitarian movement, but some of my fondest and most vivid memories are actually of the little, sometimes fleeting, conversations I had with him. Whenever I talked to Mike it was impossible to be glum. His face was typically set in that lovely engaging and infectious grin, which always made one feel brighter and smile too. Without fail he would enquire how I was and how my family were, but never as a casual or routine query: he really wanted to know – he cared. And on occasions when I had a part in leading a worship service he would always make enormously encouraging and supportive remarks. What an exceptional man! He did so lift one’s spirits.”