Remembering Francis Cole

Francis (Frank) Cole died peacefully in the Royal Hobart Hospital on 29 July after a long illness. Francis was born at Everest in North Tasmania on 6 July 1934. His father, Francis, was an engineer who worked on the Duck Reach Power Station and the Trevallyn Dam. His mother, Audrey, was a founding member of the Exeter Red Cross. His grandfather was Dr. Francis Cole of Deloraine. Francis was the dearly loved husband of Eva and late wife Jennifer and father of Andrew. 

He was educated at the Launceston Church of England Grammar School and the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in New South Wales, the later where he was led to Christian faith by a fellow student; he soon became involved with the open air campaigners and was baptized by immersion. On returning to Tasmania he took up running a church youth group and street preaching in Brisbane Street, Launceston. 

Later he spent time at a Church of Christ mission for boys in NSW. London followed. He became involved with a youth mission in South London and a youth work based on Outward Bound. He then found employment as a nurse at a Bristol aged care centre, worked with an Irish demolition firm, teaching with the Education Department and involvement with a Church of England training camp where he met Jenny Smith. With Jenny his fiancee, he returned home to Tasmania and they were married. A son Andrew followed. Years later, living in the south, they came across Pastor Doug Duncan and joined his church. When Duncan became pastor of the Hobart Baptist Church, they joined the congregation and this led to Francis and others commencing the Hobart “Church with No Walls”. 

Loveable Francis was adored by family members and everyone who knew him. During his years he was a bushman, orchardist, photographer and fisherman.

We trust in God’s promises and find comfort in knowing that Francis is at peace in His presence. John 3.16. 

– Laurie Rowston