Maland, George Richard (1906-1981)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

GEORGE RICHARD MALAND: born in Bromley, Kent on 17th May 1906. Educated at the Higher Grade School in Eastbourne, he entered the Primitive Methodist ministry in 1929 after training at Hartley College, Manchester. After a probationary period in the Darlington Circuit, and also in the Penge and Bromley Circuit, where he met his wife, Mary, he served in the following circuits: London (Kilburn and Marylebone), London (Wembley, Ealing Road), High Wycombe, Luton, London (Highgate), Southport (South), and Romford. On retirement in 1975 he accepted a post as an active supernumerary in the Folkestone Circuit. He came to reside in the Finchley and Hendon Circuit in 1979, where he continued to offer his preaching and pastoral gifts. 

George had a distinguished ministry, in which the outstanding characteristic was his sincere interest in people. Having himself a deep experience of Christ, he rejoiced when others accepted him as their Lord and Master. During his early ministry he was known as ‘The Pied Piper’ because of the way he attracted children, a gift that stayed with him throughout his ministry. Whilst in Southport, he was Chaplain of Trinity Hall Girls’ School, where he not only prepared pupils for church membership but also taught religious education throughout the school. 

Among his colleagues he was respected and honoured for his deep faith, utter integrity and warm personality. Having seen the horrors of war, George was a pacifist of deep conviction, being at one time Chairman of the Methodist Peace Fellowship. Among his other interests was cricket, and for many years he was a member of Sussex County Cricket Club. He died while on holiday on 27th August 1981, in the seventy-sixth year of his life and the fifty-second year of his ministry.

Family

George was born on 17 May 1906 at Bromley, Kent, to parents Albert Edward Maland, a grocer (1911), and Katie Temperance Bragg. His brother, Gordon was also a PM minister.

He married Mary Grace Watson (1914-2005) in the spring of 1934 in the Bromley Registration District, Kent. Birth records identify two children.

• June M (b1935) – married Derek W. Varley in 1957
• Ruth C (b1942) – married James K Lane in 1964

George died on 17 August 1981.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1929 Darlington
• 1930 Penge &c
• 1933 Kilburn &c
• 1937 Wembley Ealing Rd
• 1938 High Wycombe
• 1944 Luton
• 1951 London Highgate
• 1958 Southport S
• 1966 Romford
• 1975 Folkstone (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1982/74

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers