Re-born preacher is back in the old parish

Chaplain John Barry Cole touched down in Britain on Friday to start a book promotion tour,and is making his birth place of Uxbridge his base.

The book, From Jags to Riches, tells the story of how an idealistic teenager with a talent for the trumpet lost everything but found faith to rebuild his life.

Mr Cole was born in Uxbridge and attended St Andrew's,Oak Farm and Whitehall schools before moving to a council house in Hillingdon in 1953.

After leaving Abbotsfield School, he went to work for music company Boosey and Hawkes in Regent Street where he learnt to play the trumpet.

In 1961 he got married and decided to emigrate to America. The Gazette's forerunner,The Middlesex Advertiser, featured he and his new wife on the front page.

He said: "I had eight fantastic years there before I unfortunately got far too caught up in the celebrity lifestyle and my life took a sharp turn for the worst - I lost everything, including my wife.

"I finished up working on a used car lot in Pasadena, California, but when I couldn't sell anything for three months I suffered a breakdown and prayed to the Lord for help."

Mr Cole's prayers were answered. He got into ministry and social work, helping to run rescue missions and caring for the homeless.

Now aged 65, he spends most of his time visiting Californian ghettos and preaching.

His third marriage has lasted 32, years and he has a 20 year-old-daughter,Jennifer.

His latest trip has been arranged with the help of his friend, Pastor Tunde Balogun, of Kingsborough Family Church in New Windsor Street, Uxbridge.

* Mr Coles will be signing copies of From Jags to Riches at Maranatha Christian book shop in Windsor Street, Uxbridge, from 11am-1pm on Saturday.