BOLTON will miss its current Bishop of Bolton when the Rt Revd Chris Edmondson retires to Yorkshire next year.

It will be his 66th birthday and he feels it’s time to go, but those who’ve come into contact with Bishop Chris since his appointment in 2008 will be sorry to see him leave.

His urbane, accessible and down-to-earth manner has endeared him to people right across the community, providing big boots for the next incumbent to fill. However, I’m certain that Boltonians wish him well, and are happy to welcome him back anytime he cares to stray across the “border”.