In 2007 David was asked to design a window in memory of Gerrard "Sam" Couch who was a Mersey River Pilot from 1949 to 1988. It was commissioned by Dr. Audrey Couch as a tribute to her husband Sam to be installed in St. Hildeburgh's Church, Hoylake, Wirral.
An initial line drawing was followed by watercolour visuals so that the necessary consultations to proceed. The Church of England issued its Faculty 14 March 2008 which authorised "the installation of three painted glass memorial panels dedicated to the late Mr. Gerrard Couch of the Liverpool Pilot Service on the inside of the clear glazed windows on the south side of the chancel".
Each of the nine windows is a single piece of hand painted 6mm plate glass framed individually in hardwood. They were painted in reverse so the painted surface is on the inside of the glass. The existing windows were not removed and protect these windows from the outside. The window was installed in the Spring 2009.
The window consists of 3 "lights" each reaching 20 feet into the ceiling space to the right of the altar. The 3 sections are subdivided into 3 pieces of glass so that there are 9 in all. It is hand painted in reverse with transparent pigments onto 6mm toughened plate glass.
Pilot Boat No. 2 "Walter J Chambers" is seen "through the windows" and links the 3. It is shown in the River Mersey between the Liverpool Pier Head to the left and Woodside Ferry, Cammell Lairds and St. Mary's Tower at Birkenhead Priory to the right. Its flags indicate that it is ready to leave the river to join a vessel that will be brought safely to harbour.
Sam Couch was an apprentice on board the "Walter J. Chambers" in 1948. Therefore both sides of the river are depicted in that year. Liverpool Tugs are berthed at the Pier Head and Woodside Station is still thriving at Woodside. The time on the Liver Building clock is 12.07 pm - 1207 being the year King John gave the Royal Charter to the City.
The centre top image is a "fouled anchor". The anchor is an early Christian symbol of hope and a fouled anchor, the cable of which has become twisted around the stock, and hanging from its ring, is used on nautical insignia, seals or pennants. It is used on the Admiralty flag and on the buttons of naval uniforms. As a fouled anchor cannot function properly it is sometimes used as a tribute to someone who can no longer put to sea.
A parallel is made between the pilot service and its care for the safety of ships, and faith as a pilot and anchor. The quotation which begins on the left and is completed on the right is taken from the bible HEBREWS 6:19
Like an anchor holding a ship safely in position hope is in Christ and provides safety and sanctuary.
The upper left and right windows bear the symbols of the beginning and the end, alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. And above them are the full and the final phases of the moon to emphasise the passage of time. The moon has always been an aid to navigation, an indicator of time, the creator of tides. The crescent moon is a symbol of purity, specifically under the feet of the Virgin Mary as a symbol of chastity.
The lower circles show a fish and a crab. The fish is a very early symbol of Christian baptism (c.160?230). The letters of the Greek word for fish ICTHUS formed the initials of the words Jesus/Christ/of God/the Son/Saviour, in Greek. The fish portrayed is a plaice and the 2 combined relate to the traditional fishing industries of the River Dee and maritime connections between St. Hildeburgh and the sea. The first 2 apostles were fishermen. The crab is associated with June, one of the early Christian cycle of months and usually associated with the haymaker. The background of the fish and crab are stones from nearby Thurstaston Shore where 10,000 years ago the retreating glaciers of the last ice age deposited stones of all types on the Wirral Shoreline. The sextant or quadrant is in the central reserve is used for determining the altitude of the stars and is used as the attribute of astronomy, one of the classic Seven Liberal Arts. Behind are the oceans of the world and the constellations.
The window was installed in 2009 and followed by a service of dedication held on the 2nd of April 2009 at a service led by The Reverend Bob Evans Chaplain to the Mersey Mission to Seafarers.
The 3 windows are to the right side of the altar. They are all the same size. Each is 349cm (11ft. 6inches) high and 61cms (21inches) wide with a pointed arch to the top. Each window is separated by 86.4 cms (34 inches) of column and wall. The bottom of the windows is approximately 248 cms (8ft.) from the floor level.