This page contains entries made November 01, 02 and 03, 2003.
These names and addresses are posted to enable people to contact friends and loved ones. Please do not exploit this information for commercial purposes.
Dick
Don't let the 'bastards' grind you down.
I am sure I echo the sentiments of many others here, and if there is ever any lawsuits we will support you.
I hereby pledge my surport to starting up a fighting fund and will donate AU$100
Thanks for the past Dick and look forward to being with you in the future on this site
deej
Guest: John Weightman
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sheffield
Date & Comments: November 01, 2003
Heather Dutra told the Nigerians that we put all their junk into the bin. I wondered, having read the translation from the German in the "What's New" section of this site if that is the same as the description of Bruce Hales and his predecessors as "Selected containers"(presumably elect vessels). They are certainly the repository of a lot of rubbish.
Much more importantly, my grateful thanks to you Dick for all you have done. Far from becoming obsessed with EB's following the discovery of your site I have been able to face many issues and move on. I've also met a number of friends, both old and new, and even some relatives. My very best wishes to you and yours in the future.
John
Guest: Alan Carvell
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Dudley, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 01, 2003
How sad to learn that this site is closing down, and just as my life’s dream is almost complete!, and I won’t be able to share it with you all here, no my wife’s not expecting………, no I’m not about to become a born again Christian………, no I’m not going to become the new leader of the Conservative party! Then what? I here you cry??!!!! To see my beloved Birmingham City FC win the Premiership title and enter the European championships! OK OK there’s no chance but we do lie 4th with only Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd. above us, our highest position ever, must have been all of your prayers! So please continue to pray for them.
On a serious note, thanks Dick for all your time and effort you’ve put in, I, like many have found new friends from this site, it has also helped me no end psychologically to sort myself out, to find I was not alone, all twisted and screwed up, a result of being brought in the peebs and then losing my family when I decided to get a life. I shall miss this site.
Whatever happened to the visits, having met up with my family just over a year ago and one phone call a week later, nothing! (They must have realised I was a lost soul!) They’ve cleansed their souls and it has made them feel better and then shut the door on us again! Now there’s a surprise!!
I should become a believer then I could say “See you in heaven”! Up the Blues!
Guest: Debbie Cantley
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 01, 2003
I cannot thank Dick enough for what he has done in creating this website. It has truly changed my life. For 22 years I knew of nobody else who had left and to try and describe my past to anyone who has not experienced it was impossible. To find this site was just incredible. I have since found cousins, had all sorts of relatives contact me, and discovered a lot about my family history which has been fascinating. I have also made contact with a lot of people I used to know.
Dick, I understand totally that you should want to get on with your life, so you should. Clearly this website has evolved into something quite large, and managing it is a big task. I really do hope that there is a future for something else that allows ex EB's to communicate. We all have a unique background that only we understand - it is lovely to be understood!
Guest: Chris Harwood
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Buckhurst Hill, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 01, 2003
Dick, may I add my thanks to you for the site? I only found it about a year ago and it has been gripping. If there is a way to keep it 'on-air' it would be worthwhile for others I know. One thing that comes across loud and clear from it is that humans are beautifully diverse in their interests, attitudes, opinions and elloquence! It's hardly surprising that they do not respond well to being forced into any mold, be it EB or any other rule-based organisation (the army is a possible exception). One thing that is often under-played by Christians is that God only wants the wrong things in our lives phased-out and the good things developed. That doesn't eliminate the diversity at all. Dick, you've used your gifts here to the benefit of many, many hurting, itching, fuming, laughing (not all at the same time I guess) people and it really is appreciated. May God bless you richly along with your family and all those you hold dear!
Guest: Iain Gibb
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Grangemouth, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 01, 2003
I just want to add my thanks and express my gratitude to Dick for the fantastic work he has done in setting up and maintaining this site for so long. I fully understand that he feels the time has come to give it up. I do hope something else will emerge which allows the same diversity of opinion, exchange of ideas and passing on of information.
So thank you, Dick. I hope you are richly rewarded in your own soul for the help you have been to so many. Your motivation was to help lives that had been screwed up through the EB system, and you have achieved this. But also, I have found it great fun, chatting to and debating with others who have a very different view from my own. I shall miss this.
I know I for one would be willing to make a financial contribution to help keep a site like this going, and I have no doubt there will be hundreds more who would do the same. But who can find the time?
Thanks again, Dick
Iain
Guest: Sarah Eastwood
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Halifax, NS, Canada
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
There was a gentleman who contacted me via email regarding my enquiry into Grace Julian. I have tried to reply to his email, however it has been returned. My grandmother is Joan Keith (nee Julian), and passed away August 13, 1999. She was a sister to Grace. I have never had any contact with my grandmothers' family in England and would be interested in making contact for medical reasons as well as some connection to her lost history. I am unsure whether Grace is still a member of the EB's, and am sensitive to this possible fact. I thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sarah Eastwood
Halifax, NS
Canada
(902)868-1891
Guest: Lois Bushell
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Frome, United States
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Dear Dick
Many,Many thanks for providing this site, I am very sad to hear it is shutting down, I only discovered it in Feb 2003, having never heard from any ex EB'S before then.(Almost thought I was the only one that had left)! It has been a wonderful find and through it I have been in touch with many lost friends. One having encouraged me to visit my Father whom I had not seen for 27 years, I did this and got a very frosty reception, however I was thankfull to see him as he died 6 weeks later.
We are off to the Cayman Islands on holiday, so this may be my last contribution before the shut down.
My best wishes to you and all your family and
my heartfelt thanks once again.
Lois Bushell
Guest: Max Field
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Dear Dick
We cannot thank you enough for your efforts over the years in making this site possible. It is the only insight that a politician, judge, lawyer or other interested party has in order to research the abhorent practices of this group. Surely there is some way we can keep it going? What do we need to do to help?
We all recognise the efforts you have put into this project and your need to concentrate on your health, family etc. However it would be such a shame to lose this valuable resource.
Perhaps the site should be owned by a charitable trust and we all make donations for the site to be professionally run?
Once again thank for all your efforts.
Max
Guest: Wendy Martin
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Takapau, New Zealand
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Dear Sarah Rowlands
I totally agree with what you say, It makes me feel very sad with some of the bitter twisted comments that people write on this site. I have been out for 15 years, but what are we going to gain by being bitter, I still treat the Brethren with respect and I get respect back.
Regard Wendy
Guest: Victor Congdon
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Portland, CT, United States
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Thanks Dick for all your efforts and wonderful work that this site represents. You have been a huge help to many.
Thanks much,
Victor Congdon
Guest: George Samuel Lee
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Now working as a full time evangelist for the Epaphras Trust, based at St.George's-Tron (Church of Scotland on Buchanan Street Glasgow www.thetron.org).
Married to Ruth (nee Niemeijer) 3 Aug 2001
Twin boys Mark Dennis and Paul Frederik born 29 Apr 2003.
Enjoying the fellowship of God's family, and our daily walk with Him. How can we know God loves us? Look to the cross of Jesus:'He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?'
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
To those of you who abhore postings with no name and address, please bear with me. (I have emailed Dick directly to wish him well.) What I would like to say is this:- Come on!! Surely there is someone out there who is willing to take the site over. As all the postings say....we are all going to miss it. Please.......someone!!
Guest: Steph Ruddiman
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Cairns, Australia
Date & Comments: November 02, 2003
Thank you for all your hard work Dick. Although I don't make entries very often I generally check out the website for familiar names every couple of weeks and get a real buzz when friends from the past appear. You've done a magnificent job and helped many of us make contacts which would never have happened otherwise. Thanks again and all the very best!
Much appreciated,
Steph
Guest: Alastair
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Stourbridge, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 03, 2003
Hi Dick
Sorry to see that you have decided to call it a day with the site. I can understand how you feel as regards the constant workload, maintenance and the ensuing admin and correspondence that goes along with it.
I did wonder why the domains that I own www.exclusivebrethren.co.uk and www.exclusivebrethren.org.uk had had an inordinate amount of interest in the past couple of months. Your decision and comments have shed some light on this. The "allocated resources" that you mention must encompass looking at other domains with a similar name, although these domains are not active at present. They can be though and I will make a decision in the next few weeks, or maybe EBs would like to channel some of these resources into making me an offer for them via their agents.
Once again many thanks and best wishes for the future.
Al Rayner
Remove NOSAPM in email address to reply
Guest: Gerard Rayment
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 03, 2003
Thanks Dick for all the work you've put into your site over the years.
It's had an amazing effect: not only changing the history of several people's lives - but even, I think, forcing change on the peeb control system. Many of these changes can now continue to gain impetus, as members get a taste of new freedoms.
Wishing you the very best for the future, and your [semi?] retirement.
kind regards to all
Gerard Rayment
Guest: Laurie Twinam
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sevenoaks, KentLeeds, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 03, 2003
Many thanks Dick, for making this site available for such a long period. Despite certain problems which have arisen, some of which we have discussed,it has opened up amazing opportunities for direct contact with old friends and relatives – and also with some (exJims and even a few Jims) as to the Christian way.
I do hope that if this site has to be discontinued, some alternative means of contact of this kind can be devised. Also that your own health will soon improve through God’s mercy. I will hope to keep in touch with you. -Laurie
Guest: George Mair
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Maidnenhead Berkshire, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 03, 2003
At 10pm tonight (Monday 3 Nov), I got a phone call from a guy called Richard Walker who claims he lives in Cambridge.
Dinah answered the call and then passed over to me as I was the EX-EB not her. His opening remarks were along the lines of : I'm calling you about your remarks on Dick Wyman's site. I said I recognised his name from the site, assuming it was someone who was appealing to me to "rescue" or "come to the aid of the site". HE HAS NEVER APPEARED ON THE SITE.
He claims he knows me, and after repeating several phrases about the EB's he kept repeating everything I said. He kept saying "Very Interesting" and repeating again at least twice what I had said, so I came to the conclusion that he was either repeating it so he could either follow a script he was given or he was recording my answers. Furthermore, he says he got my number from Dick's site. Fair do's, I am open about that. BUT HE CLAIMS HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TRANSMIT AN E-MAIL.
I questioned him at length on some issues, and he kept referring (probably coincidentalLy) to people to whom I have corresponded through Dick. He kept asking me the same questions over and over again.
His hesitations caused me some surprises, and I abruptly concluded the conversation because I told him I was suspicious of his motives.
He concluded that as he was a courier (62 years old) he might find himself in the Maidenhead Area soon and would call on me. Is this my visit? After 40 and more years?
Guest: Dave T
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: November 03, 2003
On hearing that this site was about to close, did anyone feel as I did the urge to print off as much as possible in order to preserve a record? Eerily like the tales one hears of Christians in the old Russia or China hand-copying or memorising portions of scripture when they happened to get hold of a copy...
Given thatthe internet is a diffuse entity, would it not be possible for two or three people to maintain identical sites which all contain nothing more than the title bar at the top of this page, each of which links to lots of separate pages maintained by different individuals? That way for example, the guestbook could be 'owned' by 30-odd different people, one for each page, and if something was deemed to be offensive, then the owner of the top page (or one of the owners) could if necessary remove the link to that page until the problem was sorted out, without affecting the rest of the site.
I realise that would involve quite a lot of initial organistaion, but would it work, or am I being hopelesly naive?