Gaukroger is Huguenot French. His ancestor was Gauche Roger - left-handed Roger. Gauche Roger was a prince persecuted for his faith who fled from France and came to South Yorkshire, where the 'Gauche' was hardened and became 'Gaukroger'. John Marsh talked to Stephen Gaukroger.
EN: I had not realised you were a Yorkshireman.
SG: My father came from Halifax and I was born in Sheffield, but we moved to Leamington Spa in the Midlands when I was young. My father taught maths at the Leamington College for Boys in the early 1960s. Then we moved north to Preston, so I finished my schooling at Preston Grammar and was brought up at Carey Baptist Church there.
EN: When did you become a Christian?
SG: I can hardly remember a time when God was not real to me, but I suppose I date my commitment to Christ to when I was about six or seven. I remember kneeling at my bedside and saying sorry to God, and asking him to be my Saviour. I did not pray a very theologically correct prayer - 'Dear God, I'd like whatever it is my parents have. Please be my Saviour.'
