Sam was born at 12.36 am on April 6 1984. At midday we were told that he had Down’s Syndrome.
From the outset the Lord’s hand was upon him, with Christian midwife, health visitor and later teaching assistants.
Sam’s life was spent at Deeping St. James, where he attended Deeping Baptist Church. He was converted in his teens and was baptised on his 19th birthday, declaring loud and clear his favourite verse, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’. He was a walking encyclopaedia of hymn verse numbers.
Practical help
He loved to help in the church in practical ways, including assisting in taking up the offering and signing ‘Let’s give thanks’ for our deaf friends before the offering prayer.
Sam attended mainstream school until secondary level when he went to a special school and then two local colleges. He was still a student at New College Stamford when he was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2011.
On non-college days Sam helped at an Age Concern Day Centre and did this for many years. Sam had many other interests and in 2009 he and four other young people with learning disabilities completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They all went to St. James’s Palace on November 30 2009 when they received their gold awards and met HRH Prince Edward. This demonstrates what people with learning disabilities can achieve.
Despite gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment and many weeks in hospital, Sam bore his illness with great faith and fortitude and never complained or questioned why. Bedtime Bible readings and prayers were very precious.
Saviour’s presence
On November 21 Sam was admitted to hospital for the last time and, despite being very weak, enjoyed a carol service at the hospital the day before he was ushered, very peacefully, into his Saviour’s presence aged 27 on the Lord’s Day December 18.
Throughout his short life Sam was an inspiration to us as his parents and to many others. A thanksgiving service was held on December 30. The service was conducted by Pastor Robert Sanders who preached from Sam’s favourite verse, with approximately 250 present from the many organisations with which Sam was connected.
