The Ison family are really looking forward to their move to the Ballisodare Group of Parishes and wanted to tell you a little bit about themselves.
Andrew is currently working as a vicar in East Yorkshire where he has oversight of five churches, four in villages and a larger church in the market town of Driffield. He was born and brought up in Worksop in Nottinghamshire although he has lived various parts of England, the Netherlands and the USA.
Andrew happily admits that he seems to have been a habitual student. However, he has had a “real job”. Being a trained biochemical engineer he was involved in the production of penicillin during his first time in Holland. Prior to theological college and ordination, he spent nearly ten years as a university lecturer in the subject at University College London.
It was during his time in London that he met Julie at their local church. Julie comes from Belfast and was working as a fundraiser for Save the Children. Shortly after their marriage in 1996, and much to his own surprise, Andrew began to follow a call to ministry which eventually led them to Trinity College, Bristol, where Andrew trained.
Andrew is a real family man and, being the only male in the house, he knows his place in the pecking order! When not with his family, he is happiest reading and watching movies. He loves cycling and is looking forward to getting out and enjoying the lovely countryside in Sligo.
Julie has spent the last years looking after the children but as they are now older she has taken the opportunity to qualify as a counsellor, and works with people who are finding life tough.
Emma is sixteen and has just completed her GCSE’s. She loves to have a go at anything. Until recently she had a Saturday job in a local cafe. Clare is thirteen and loves friends and animals. Both girls are going to Sligo Grammar School. Lottie is the final member of the family, our wonderfully cuddly large Bernese Mountain Dog who loves everyone and gives great pleasure to us all.