Canon Brian Stevenson writes:
FURTHER to Canon Newell’s obituary of Roly Bain (Gazette, 16 September), I would add his rapport with Archbishop Carey.
The first time I met Roly was in Bearsted, Kent, at a summer tent mission on the green. Dr Carey and Roly led the worship together. My wife and I were in the choir. Hundreds of children and their parents were enthralled by Roly’s clowning.
At one point, he asked the choir whether he should throw a bucket of water over the Archbishop, as it was so hot. The choir half-heartedly said yes — whereupon Roly filled a large bucket with water and tossed the contents at Dr Carey, but instead of water it was cascaded stars.
Later, he filled another bucket and asked whether he should hurl the water over the young curate. We roared yes, but this time it was a cascade of water. His services had us on the edge of our seats — like the archbishop and the curate.