Stuart Hodges was a tall, friendly man who took over as lay preacher at the Glad Tidings Mission Hall from Leonard Swindley in April 1964. His arrival coincided with a decline in turnouts at services at the Mission, causing assistant Emily Nugent to worry that Stuart would recommend its closure, but he immediately allayed her fears with his desire to brighten up the Mission. His amiable manner gave him a talent for putting people at ease; he even won over resident caretaker Ena Sharples by helping her wash the Mission walls.