HE is a successful businessman, has hitch hiked from Egypt to England and even flown Concorde.
Now, Colin Sargeant, 87, has just completed his latest task of truly biblical proportions.
The grandfather from Earley is hoping a university will accept his 27-volume commentary on the world’s best-selling book.
Colin has spent the last six years researching and writing the Bible from Genesis to Revelation even though he describes himself as an unbeliever.
He started the mammoth task after talking to a friend from his local bowls club who was also a member of Woodley Baptist Church.
“The day after my wife, Jean and I sold the toy shop we ran for 30 years, she was diagnosed with cancer,” explained Colin.
“I mentioned her illness to a friend at the club not knowing he was a Christian. He offered to pray for her which I gladly accepted.
“Jean was cured of the cancer and whether that was the result of prayer or the surgeon’s knife I do not know.
“My friend then invited me to attend an Alpha course which is a basic introduction to Christianity, at Woodley Baptist so I went along.”
This spurred Colin to launch his own investigation into the Bible which included scouring ancient manuscripts and archaeology from the time.
But the entrepreneur who has started several successful businesses including a courier and car hire firm, says he was not fazed by the task.
“When I finished my national service in 1951 in Egypt, I decided to hitch hike back to England. It took me five weeks and I saw such terrible devastation and hardship on the way,” added Colin.
“I took flying lessons when I turned 70 and gained my licence two years later. For my 80th birthday, my children booked me a lesson in the original Concorde flight simulator which their pilots used and I passed that as well.
“I have faced challenges all my life and overcome them.
“I like to think of myself as a born leader.
“I have written to a number of universities inviting them to take my work. Some have declined while others have yet to reply but I am still hopeful.”
Colin’s 27 volumes on the Bible runs to more than a million words. Despite his research, he claims he remains an unbeliever.
He adds: “I still regard myself as an unbeliever but when I am on my deathbed,
I will speak to Jesus.”
