Leprosy Mission honours Barbara and Eddie Askew

|PIC1|Barbara and Eddie both passed away in 2007 after contributing a large part of their lives to the work of The Leprosy Mission and the Baptist denomination.

Responding to God’s call the couple left the UK in 1950 to work at a Leprosy Mission hospital complex in India and after only a few years became responsible for running it.

They returned to England in 1965, where Eddie became the General Director and later the Vice President of The Leprosy Mission International in London.

Barbara was asked to become assistant to the Secretary of the European Baptist Federation in 1973, which became a demanding and varied role. This then led to her appointment as Executive Assistant at the headquarters of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

In retirement the couple continued to work hard. Eddie discovered a whole new career writing best-selling Christian books and turning his attention to his painting, a skill he had honed over the years both in India and the UK.

|PIC2|Their daughters, Stephanie and Jenny, have given a watercolour and a pastel drawing by Eddie and a photo of the couple, which they unveiled at the ceremony on Thursday.

Stephanie thanked The Leprosy Mission for giving Barbara and Eddie such scope in their work and Jenny expressed her thanks for the opportunity to maintain links with the organisation they grew up with. Jenny has already spoken on behalf of the organisation for World Leprosy Day this year.

National Director for The Leprosy Mission England and Wales, Rupert Haydock, said: "It is particularly appropriate that we name this room after Barbara and Eddie.

"The room is recognition and thanks for their dedication and passion in working with people affected by leprosy.

"It will also be a reminder to us here to work with the same attitude and to follow God’s leading, always making our talents available to Him and believing in His plans for our lives."