Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

My father Rev Fred Palmer retired in 1962, he was 74 years old with 2 of 6 children, Primrose and myself still at school.

But what was to be done? It was deemed by the church authorities that my father must retire, and fortunately for us, there was a very good assistant bishop of the Newcastle diocese, Leslie Stibbard, who found a disused rectory in Maitland.

This was good in so many ways, because Prim and I could ride our push bikes to our high schools instead of those long bus commutes from Clarence Town. There was a rental to pay to the church, and things rolled on for about 5 years when in 1967, someone in the church decided to double the rent which was done in a letter with no warning.

But we were not just renters because during our time at Maitland, my parents helped regularly with church activities such as Mum playing the organ for Sunday services and hosting local clergy. My father also took services and funerals to help the local incumbent Canon Redman.

Also in 1967 Primrose married and therefore moved into a flat with her husband Glen Brooker. I was by now commuting to work in Newcastle, and so it seemed logical to me that Mum, Dad, and myself, move to Newcastle. This had the double benefit of me being close to work, and was the final break with church work for my parents, They could really retire at last.xx

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