Though memories of missionary service were rekindled and shared throughout President Gordon B. Hinckley's recent journey through England and Ireland, perhaps they burned brightest on Thursday, Aug. 31, as the president visited Preston and Nelson, Lancashire.

While in Nelson he called on a friend from his mission days, Bob Pickles, as well as visited the apartment in which he lived while serving here more than 60 years ago.The Hinckleys then drove to Avenham Park in Preston near the River Ribble, where the first baptisms were performed in 1837 by Elder Heber C. Kimball and other missionaries. There they viewed markers commemorating the introduction of the gospel into the British Isles.

It was in Lancashire where the prophet spent the first five months of his mission after he reached the British Isles via ship in June 1933. After three months in Preston and two in Nelson, the young Elder Hinckley spent the final 19 months of his mission in and around London. He served as an assistant to his mission president, Elder Joseph F. Merrill of the Quorum of the Twelve.

President Hinckley readily admitted he learned much as a missionary in Great Britain, in several speeches during his Aug 24-Sept. 2 visit to England and Ireland, and that the memories of his service here from 1933-35 were sweet.

Among the many lessons he learned was to "always look to the right when stepping into the street," he told one group of missionaries, who laughed knowingly.

President Hinckley's day in Lancashire - like all days during the trip - was a busy one that included two hours travel in the morning and a visit to the Preston Temple Complex in Chorley near Preston (see accompanying story).

President Hinckley then traveled to the home of 86-year-old Bob Pickles, a colorful English gentleman whom he had known when serving in Nelson as a missionary. Brother Pickles, with his son Milton and granddaughter Kathryn, greeted the prophet enthusiastically. The two men shared good-natured teasing in Brother Pickles' living room.

"You look great!" exclaimed President Hinckley to Brother Pickles, recounting the days when the Englishman had befriended and assisted the young missionaries in Nelson. "I remember you when you were young," he said, smiling. "I just wanted to come and say hello. You are the one man left of all the people I knew here." The other English member still living from that era in Lancashire is Gertrude Corless of Preston, who President Hinckley was unable to see on this trip.

Brother Pickles responded: "All the young ladies thought I was a handsome lad then, didn't they?"

President Hinckley laughed.

Brother Pickles congratulated President Hinckley on his call as president of the Church. "I'm proud of you, and I love you. What are you doing in your spare time?"

President Hinckley chuckled again and responded: "Sleeping."

"We did a little tracting together a long time ago," continued President Hinckley. "You're one of the war-horses of the Church in Lancashire."

Brother Pickles said, more seriously: "I never expected I would see you in this house."

President Hinckley recounted that the two had been together in Nelson at Christmas 1933, and the pair discussed their experiences together nearly 62 years ago.

After 15 or 20 minutes of lighthearted visiting, the two men moved outside to say goodbye. "Take good care of him; you know he needs it," Brother Pickles quipped to the accompanying group. Then he reached over and embraced President Hinckley as both men shed tears. It was a sweet and poignant moment for the two long-time friends and those watching as they bid farewell.

From Brother Pickles' home, President and Sister Hinckley traveled to the president's missionary apartment in Nelson at 10 Wickworth St., where he reminisced about his experiences there.

"We had the rooms on the top floor," he recalled.

It was at another apartment, in Preston, where President Hinckley has said on several occasions that he made a life-long commitment to serve the Lord and do His work when things weren't going well early in his mission.

"Everything that has happened to me since, that's been good, I can trace to that decision made in that little house . . . in Preston, Lancashire."