Fr Peter Davis, who left Australia for the wilds of Windy Ridge, near Stanley, was joined by his bishop friend as he made his promies as a monk.

IF Peter Davis had a dream, all those years ago in Australia, it probably wasn't that on Martin Luther King Day, he would find himself on Windy Ridge, making a first profession and becoming a monk.

He might never have imagined, either, that his pal would become a bishop or that the bishop would fly 12,000 miles publicly to reveal Pete's passion for Baxter's lobster bisque and for Fray Bentos steak and kidney pudding and, further, that his bathroom cabinet would "make Boot's the chemist look rather pathetic in comparison".

The man who was once chaplain to a vineyard might never have believed that he'd love it up on Windy Ridge but he does, and they him, enormously.

Windy Ridge, it may be explained, is the two or three west Durham miles from Tow Law to Stanley Hill Top, otherwise Mount Pleasant, gutsy, gusty communities improbably embracing Sunniside.

Wooed by a video and by an artful archdeacon, Fr Peter has been Vicar of Tow Law, Stanley and of Satley - a little more sheltered - since leaving Adelaide in August 2001. We'd stood him lunch soon afterwards, at once amazed that - innocent abroad - he insisted on getting the beers in. "Not only is it unheard of for Church of England clergy to buy a round but probably breaches at least five of the 39 Articles of Religion," an earlier column irreverently observed.

Now altogether more acclimatised - it's easier to get warm when cold than to chill in 40 degrees Centigrade, he philosophises - he was at St Thomas's in Stanley on Monday evening to make his promises to the Society of the Sacred Mission, which helps to place priests in places which appear unpopular.

In a clear sky, the view from the summit spread many a mile south-east like a neon milky way. "A bitter cold night," announced Fr Jonathan Ewer, the European provincial, whilst the talk before the service was of how many pullovers it had seemed appropriate to wear for the occasion. For Stanley Hill Top, however, the evening was positively sub-tropical.

We began with Jerusalem, and England's green and pleasant, though there were never mills - satanic or otherwise - on the hill top, and Wooley Terrace colliery is long since worked to a standstill.

Fr Peter, a man best described as comfortably proportioned, sat at the front with his sponsor from the Society, for all the world groom and best man.

The Rt Rev Gary Weatherill, built to make his friend seem skeletal by comparison, is Bishop of Willochra, a south Australian diocese twice the size of Texas - "the Americans are always impressed by that" - with 26 priests, 80 dust scattered congregations and a hell of a lot of sheep.

When he left it had been 105 degrees. In Stanley it probably wasn't 35, and falling furtively. He was as jolly as a swagman, as warm as a wombat's windcheater, as cold as a tin of XXXX.

Pete, said the bishop, was a good fellow with a largeness of vision and a tendency to overindulge. "His warm heartedness and generosity of spirit sees the beauty of God in all things."

As well as steak and kidney pudding, there was also something in his sermon of the "funny warm beer" he'd been drinking in recent days, a reference for which doubtless he was forgiven.

Once poverty, chastity and obedience, the vows - provisionally for a year - now enfold "simplicity of lifestyle", "singleness of life" and "searching for the will of God".

No doubting at St Thomas's, Fr Peter answered each one firmly - "I am willing" - and was at once given his cowl, habit, crucifix and girdle.

Tow Law, he said afterwards, was just the place to test the disciplines of monastic living.

The service was dedicated to Martin Luther King, the text of his 1963 Lincoln Memorial address printed at the back of the order of service. "He's a bit of a hero of mine," said Fr Peter, "a symbol of social justice and anti-racism. It seemed an appropriate day."

We sang All People That On Earth Do Dwell and Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory, prayed for justice and peace, listened to a recording of someone called Cassey Chambers singing something called Ignorance.

Though the words were indistinguishable above the wind, it could almost have been Melanie singing about Alexander Beetle.

Dave Ayre, a Stanley stalwart, talked afterwards of the man who has swept onto the hill top like the blizzard of Oz. "Congregations have increased, the church is used more than it's ever been. Peter has a formidable intellect, a marvellous magnetism and an affinity with working people, if you like. He's very, very approachable."

His appetite, Dave added, was becoming a bit legendary, too - Friar Tucker, as an Australian monastic might say.

Bishop Gary had been a year above him at theological college - "I was his minder, I suppose; we still look out for one another" - and recalled a man who also changed cars more often than some folk changed their socks.

Fr Peter will continue as Vicar, though Tow Law vicarage will become a priory - they say he's so sparing with the central heating that visitors never take their coats off - and his income and other goods will become the Order's.

Monty, the border collie he brought from Australia, and which was at Monday's service, will share the priory, too.

The Society of the Sacred Mission, based in Durham, will provide life's physical necessities and a £30 a week allowance, something which already he has addressed.

"I'm going to have to go easy on the lobster bisque," said Fr Peter. "From now on, I think it's pea and ham."

On Windy Ridge, veritably a breath of fresh air.

Cast-iron cause for celebration

DROP in the ocean, perhaps, but next Monday marks the 150th anniversary of the launch of the first iron ship on the Tees at Stockton.

A report in the Darlington and Stockton Times - the Echo being barely a twinkle - noted that the 153ft schooner had "taken to the water in gallant style, amidst the shouts of the multitude on both sides of the river and the firing of several cannon".

Thereafter the gaffers enjoyed a cold collation; the workers had tea and a dance.

Alan Betteney, who provides the information, is the chap who last year wrote A History of Shipbuilding in Stockton and Thornaby, already into a reprint. An exhibition celebrating the history runs at the Green Dragon Museum in Stockton until February 27.

The Advance was on the Tees to London run until being sold in 1869. She was lost in the North Sea on March 24, 1872.

LONG serving former Durham CIU secretary Jack Amos, given the MBE in the New Year list, was presented at a do at Castleside WMC last night with awards to mark his 21 years on the CIU national executive. Racing man and ex-journalist, Jack was studying the form last week when he noticed the appropriately named Double Honour. "It was a bit too wet to go to the bookie's," he sighs. It won at 6-4.

THIS column and others have recently mentioned the newly published 20th century history of St Cuthbert's church, in Darlington.

It was therefore timely that John Treadgold, St Cuthbert's Vicar from 1974-81 and subsequently Dean of Chichester, should feature in The Times church column on Saturday.

The Dean still played clerical second fiddle, however, to our own Rev Dr Peter Mullen, Rector of St Michael's in the City of London, where the annual Stock Exchange service had been held.

The Times lady thought Peter "extraordinary". Among his many other interests, she reported, he will be speaking on TS Eliot at the London Arts Club a week on Monday - "seeking to illustrate his striking prophecies over the decline of western civilisation and the way that these have come true beyond his wildest nightmares".

It was Eliot who supposed that hell is oneself. Perhaps that's what Peter means. Doubtless we shall hear about it, anyway.

GORDON Thubron, the former Newton Aycliffe police inspector whose hunt for the words of the poem The Cavalier's Escape we reported last week, was overwhelmed with the response. Gordon now has the full monty in book form. "It has meant," he says, "a rapid return to childhood."

...and finally, a very happy wedding anniversary today to Mr Allen Bayles, sleepless secretary of West Auckland FC, and to his wife Anne. It's also tonight that Tyne Tees Telly screens its late night "Legends" programme live from the Manor House Hotel in West and featuring those famous footballers. "Our dinner date's a secret," says Allen, but the Manor's 20-1 on.