This week in Prophet’s Corner is Tony Francis.

Tony is a big character, a man with a big personality to go with that big character.

He was born in Colchester in 1957, and describes himself as “a former hard drinking, rugby playing police officer, an all singing all dancing, fell walking, canoeing, poetry writing, artistic grandad with a passion to share the adventures of the spirit-filled life with anyone who would care to join me”. 

He recently retired after ten fantastic years with Colchester Council, five with museums and five with community services. Tony is also a Street Pastor. Here he talks about life on the streets of Colchester after dark.

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AS a uniformed Street Pastor on the streets of Colchester I am engaging with not only the public but the statutory, voluntary, and private sectors across the entire night economy.

This is from “street” level to executive level. It is a joy and a privilege, let alone an adventure.

The Bible tell us: “We fight not against flesh and blood... but the spiritual powers of the air...”.

In other words, it is often a spiritual battle we have to face.

It’s not just the people who are the problem, it’s the substances they get “bewitched” into abusing and the potential carnage which follows.

So, we patrol to contend with the excesses of freedom of choice.

We endeavour, and often succeed, to minister levels of peace, joy, and comfort. A reassuring word to door staff about their professionalism is welcomed, particularly if it is given with an eye witness account of their actions.

Gazette: Colchester street pastors

Appealing to the chivalry of an inebriated young man escorting an inebriated young lady can go some considerable way to ensure her safe passage home.

A far too common casualty of the excesses are very young ladies we find comatose in doorways, lost, stranded, handbags and phones gone and unable to make any sense.

We deal with their dignity in a triage of desperate needs.

We can call on the expertise of the SOS bus. In every interaction, we pray.

Please, young people, as Jim Rohn said: “Take care of your bodies. It’s the only place you have to live in.”

The glorious thing is that over this Christmas period things really changed.

This is born out from first hand observation on patrols and from crime statistics, emergency calls and licensing non-compliances, all of which showed a remarkable decline.

That is very good news. That is the result of the army of people who take the enjoyment of others seriously.

Those folks are the caring service providers, the highly dedicated emergency services, the armies of volunteers and the individuals who come into town,with food for the homeless, or simply those with a mindset and a will to see our young people safe and the licensees who care about their customers,

A case study I can present from a personal experience highlights my point.

I was birthday-gifted some meal vouchers for the Noodle Bar on North Hill.

Together with my one and only glamorous lady companion, we went for a meal. The food was exquisite.

However the evening was seriously disrupted by a very loud customer whose language was beyond graphically vulgar.

I reported this to the licensee, Ting.

He discounted our meal immediately. He spoke with the offending customer and tactfully established a code of conduct more suitable to such a venue.

He secured a much-welcomed apology for us from the customer.

He debriefed his staff at the end of the evening and put policies in place.

He left me a very humbling voicemail and a shockingly consoling text message.

He followed this up with a phone call to me the following morning and the offer of hospitality at his expense.

How delightful. What a role model you are, Ting, of the conduct of a licensee.