Faith and focus saw Anne flock

Years of quiet support and good work... Anne Sykes, current Woman of Oldham

Martyn Torr meets Anne Sykes: The Woman of Oldham with a fascinating story to tell . . .
NOW I reckon I’ve known Anne Sykes for nigh-on 30 years, give or take a few months, but I am ashamed to admit I don’t really understand the demands put on the wife of a vicar.

And given that the vicar in question is John Sykes, indisputably the best-known clergyman in Oldham, those demands have been many... and varied.

Even now, seven years after her husband retired after 17 years as Vicar of Oldham, the current Woman of Oldham is taking on new challenges having become a trustee of Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton.

Anne attended her first trustees’ meeting the day before we met for our little chat — and reminisce.

We were near-neighbours in Uppermill in the early 1980s, when John was Vicar of Saddleworth. Anne helped to run the pre-playschool in Lee Street where my second son, Adam, was a cute little trainee tearaway.

Like all the kids there, he was so full of energy it was unnerving to see them all in one room but Anne and her colleagues coped with a serenity she displays to this day.

There is a calmness about Anne I suspect has been present all her life.

Now 65, she seems to hardly have changed outwardly and perhaps there is a clue in her religious background. I cannot comment, for aside from being a choirboy at St Andrew’s Church in Southport for two years — OK, I confess, I did it for the money — I have no religious inclinations whatsoever.

Anne — nee Shufflebotham — was born into a religious family in Heywood. Her parents and grandparents were regular churchgoers and it was only natural that Anne developed a faith background.

Her childhood and social life revolved around the church — and music. Her father Thomas was a musician of some repute, playing the violin and later, double bass in some of the area’s larger orchestras. This naturally led her into dancing.

Partnering her father, Anne became a skilful and highly proficient ballroom dancer, particularly favouring the Latin American style. She eventually qualified as a member of the International Dance Teachers’ Association, although she no longer dances.

She smiles gently at the memories, adding: “I don’t think I could teach now. Oh no, it’s been far too long...”

But she does still enjoy dancing and, at frequent social events she often persuades the enthusiastic but limited former Chaplain to the Queen to fumble his way around the dance floor in the arms on his elegant missus.

I know, I’ve seen them. And they are such a lovely couple I know they will not take umbrage at my recollections and descriptions.

Given the incredibly hectic life Anne has led in the public and voluntary sector, it is a minor miracle she has managed to keep her dancing skills in such finely-tuned working order.

The teenage, orderly Anne had her career mapped out. Passing her 11-plus she attended Heywood Grammar School intent on becoming a teacher, but fate intervened: her father was taken seriously ill and Anne, needing to remain at home, instead embarked on a career in the civil service with the Air Ministry, which had offices in Heywood, supporting the 35th Maintenance Unit.

Her time outside work and caring for her ailing father still revolved around St Luke’s Church and her life was to change for good with the arrival of a new curate.

The appointee was, of course, the future Vicar of Oldham, John, arriving from Nottingham via Slaithwaite. In 1967 they were married.

And so began a life on the road, first to Bolton where John was appointed to a most active parish of Holy Trinity, with powerful connections to Bolton Institute. By now, Anne was an executive officer in the civil service and finding work was not that difficult.

She remembers: “Had I followed my original career path of becoming a teacher, life would have been much more complicated — each time John was given a new appointment I would have had to apply for teaching posts at local schools, but in those days there was always work in the civil service.”

They next moved to Reddish in Stockport. It was there that their first-born, Adam, arrived. Helen followed three years later, and Anne became a full-time mother.

“It was a difficult decision, to be honest, for I was clearly earning more than John, but . . .”

The words trail away. Not with regret, for though Anne was expert at her job, she recognised her husband had a calling she was destined to support.

We never talked about money, but I suspect that the stipend of a (now retired) man of the cloth is probably buttons.

Such was her unfailing energy that she has forged almost a career of her own while throwing herself wholeheartedly in the life of whichever church her husband was sent.

It was in 1978 that they arrived in Saddleworth and this was the start of a love affair with Oldham and its people which endures to this day.

For nine years they lived in Uppermill enjoying life in rural Saddleworth, Anne becoming a founder member of Saddleworth Cancer Research Committee and of which she is now chairman.

Eventually, John was appointed Vicar of Oldham, which necessitated a move into a house at the junction of Rock Street and St Mary’s Way. This was an upside-down property, Anne vividly recalls, which had become isolated by demolition of surrounding properties.

“The Bishop of Manchester wasn’t happy at the family moving into this house, not happy at all, but we knew we had to integrate ourselves into the Oldham parish if John was to do his job properly and we were to be accepted.

“But the move in Rock Street wasn’t allowed by the Bishop and eventually we moved into a house owned by the church in Grotton Hollow, which was supposed to be temporary, but we ended up staying there for 17 years.”

That was until John reached retirement age, seven years ago, and they took up residence in another church-owned property in Ivy Green Drive, Springhead.

Life should have become less hectic.

“John has learned how to say ‘no’, but he is still called upon for services and funerals. When we came to Saddleworth there were seven parishes and six vicars — Saddleworth Church was always linked to Diggle — but now there are only three clergy.”

These words are not spoken with resignation, or impatience, but an understanding that flocks need their shepherds and John will often take two services on a Sunday morning. Yes, he is officially retired but his spirits and enthusiasm remain high even when there are only 10 in his congregation.

Their children are now adults and have flown the nest for careers in Munich — Adam is fluent in German and works for BMW — and London, where Helen works for a major charity, but life remains hectic for Anne.

In addition to her work with the cancer research group, and her new role with Dr Kershaw’s, Anne is a magistrate of 19 years standing, a member of the probation committee and panel which reviews drug treatment and testing orders.

In 2003, she was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

She has served the diocese as Secretary of the Board of Ministry for six years and has long been involved with the church-related organisation, the Mothers’ Union.

For seven years she has managed the Away From It All scheme, which provides holidays for children and older people who are carers, when they need a break. So it was no surprise when, at the prestigious Woman of Oldham lunch at the White Hart, Lydgate, Anne received the ultimate accolade.

Many of us, even the ungodly like myself, have reason to be grateful that Anne Sykes found a life among us Oldham folk and continues to be one of us.