St. Macartin's Cathedral
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
A Featured Cathedral Family
Member
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James Hamill
James is married to Sonya and has two young children. He is a member of the Select Vestry and helps to operate the sound desk and visuals.
Tell us about your early days.
I had a great childhood and I look back on it with many happy memories. I loved
school, sport, university, and the friendships that came along with them. I was blessed
to come from a loving family, who always supported me in whatever I wanted to do.
They offered a steadying hand and advice which tempered a ‘lively’ desire to be
involved in everything, and instilled a quiet confidence and respect for others. In 2001 I applied to Dental School and ended up in Dundee. I loved every minute of it and knew that I had been guided to the right place.
Where are you working?
Along with my wife, we opened the Blueapple Dental Practice in Belcoo in 2005. This started a whole new chapter in our lives, which has brought us on a journey we never thought it would. It has brought us much joy. Like any business, it is hard work, but thankfully neither of us are scared of rolling our sleeves up. I am also involved in a couple of start-up businesses, and it will be interesting to see how they develop, although being an eternal optimist I think everything can work.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I have always loved the game of rugby due to its physical nature and the inbuilt respect it instills for yourself, your team mates and, importantly, your opposition. I think it’s a great sport for young men. Unfortunately I had to give up rugby in my late 20s, and for several years shooting became my passion. This continues, but in 2008 I discovered
road cycling and it has become somewhat of an addiction. I have been lucky enough to cycle the length of Ireland, and the 1000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End. This June I will complete 250 miles within 24 hours, with the hope of raising a few pounds for the Church Hall project.
Do you travel?
I travel a great deal with my work, educating myself, and I also am in the privileged position of educating others, usually on the subject of dental implants. Over the years this has been a huge commitment, leaving me out of the country for many nights when I would rather have been in my own bed!! I do regret not travelling more before we had children, and I have an ever-lengthening destination wish-list. But we have been lucky enough to be able to go on several lovely family holidays. I do have a growing desire to visit the Far East and India. Last year we purchased a motorhome, and this enables us to hide away for a quick weekend here and there.
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Food: for safety reasons I should say anything cooked by the fair hand of Sonya. Can’t beat a good steak in my eyes. Film: I don’t have a great memory, so it’s usually the latest one I have seen. Les Miserables was simply superb. Books: I love a crime fiction, such as anything by Jo Nesbo.
What was your best day?
I count myself very lucky. I am fit and healthy, I have a good job, a loving family circle, and a wife and two children who mean the world to me. I can’t really say what my best ‘day’ was as I have had so many. I just pray that they continue to come and my luck holds out.
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
Verse: Isaiah 41:10 ‘Fear not, for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’
Hymn: ‘As the Deer pants for Water’. This is such a beautiful and inspiring hymn, it says it all.
Any challenges?
My biggest one at present is time management. With so much going on workwise, training for the bike ride and a very busy family life, there are just not enough hours in the day. I am eternally restless, and this provides me with a bit of a battle to concentrate on just one thing at a time. I get bored easily and love a new challenge. This can drive my family a little crazy at times as they struggle to keep up. However, I keep a poem on my desktop (‘Lord, Slow Me Down’ by Wilfred Peterson) that was sent to be by my father. I read it regularly and quietly thank him for doing so.
Slow me down Lord
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace
with a vision of the eternal march of time.
Give me amid the confusion of the day,
the calmness of the eternal hills.
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of the singing streams
that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking MINUTE vacations,
Of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend,
to pat a dog,
to read a few lines of a good book.
Slow me down Lord
and inspire me to send my roots
deep in to the soil of life's enduring values
that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Slow me down, Lord
I had a great childhood and I look back on it with many happy memories. I loved
school, sport, university, and the friendships that came along with them. I was blessed
to come from a loving family, who always supported me in whatever I wanted to do.
They offered a steadying hand and advice which tempered a ‘lively’ desire to be
involved in everything, and instilled a quiet confidence and respect for others. In 2001 I applied to Dental School and ended up in Dundee. I loved every minute of it and knew that I had been guided to the right place.
Where are you working?
Along with my wife, we opened the Blueapple Dental Practice in Belcoo in 2005. This started a whole new chapter in our lives, which has brought us on a journey we never thought it would. It has brought us much joy. Like any business, it is hard work, but thankfully neither of us are scared of rolling our sleeves up. I am also involved in a couple of start-up businesses, and it will be interesting to see how they develop, although being an eternal optimist I think everything can work.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I have always loved the game of rugby due to its physical nature and the inbuilt respect it instills for yourself, your team mates and, importantly, your opposition. I think it’s a great sport for young men. Unfortunately I had to give up rugby in my late 20s, and for several years shooting became my passion. This continues, but in 2008 I discovered
road cycling and it has become somewhat of an addiction. I have been lucky enough to cycle the length of Ireland, and the 1000 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End. This June I will complete 250 miles within 24 hours, with the hope of raising a few pounds for the Church Hall project.
Do you travel?
I travel a great deal with my work, educating myself, and I also am in the privileged position of educating others, usually on the subject of dental implants. Over the years this has been a huge commitment, leaving me out of the country for many nights when I would rather have been in my own bed!! I do regret not travelling more before we had children, and I have an ever-lengthening destination wish-list. But we have been lucky enough to be able to go on several lovely family holidays. I do have a growing desire to visit the Far East and India. Last year we purchased a motorhome, and this enables us to hide away for a quick weekend here and there.
Favourites in life—food/film/books?
Food: for safety reasons I should say anything cooked by the fair hand of Sonya. Can’t beat a good steak in my eyes. Film: I don’t have a great memory, so it’s usually the latest one I have seen. Les Miserables was simply superb. Books: I love a crime fiction, such as anything by Jo Nesbo.
What was your best day?
I count myself very lucky. I am fit and healthy, I have a good job, a loving family circle, and a wife and two children who mean the world to me. I can’t really say what my best ‘day’ was as I have had so many. I just pray that they continue to come and my luck holds out.
Have you a favourite Bible verse/hymn?
Verse: Isaiah 41:10 ‘Fear not, for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’
Hymn: ‘As the Deer pants for Water’. This is such a beautiful and inspiring hymn, it says it all.
Any challenges?
My biggest one at present is time management. With so much going on workwise, training for the bike ride and a very busy family life, there are just not enough hours in the day. I am eternally restless, and this provides me with a bit of a battle to concentrate on just one thing at a time. I get bored easily and love a new challenge. This can drive my family a little crazy at times as they struggle to keep up. However, I keep a poem on my desktop (‘Lord, Slow Me Down’ by Wilfred Peterson) that was sent to be by my father. I read it regularly and quietly thank him for doing so.
Slow me down Lord
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace
with a vision of the eternal march of time.
Give me amid the confusion of the day,
the calmness of the eternal hills.
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of the singing streams
that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking MINUTE vacations,
Of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend,
to pat a dog,
to read a few lines of a good book.
Slow me down Lord
and inspire me to send my roots
deep in to the soil of life's enduring values
that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Slow me down, Lord
