Issue 87 - NWRFCA - Northwest Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

cumbria
acf
New padre for Cumbria ACF
The role of chaplain is vital
particularly during annual
training and we were all relieved
to learn that the Rev Peter Turnbull
had been appointed to fill the
vacancy.
Peter is a Church of England vicar
in Cleator Moor with responsibility
for four local parishes; he is also
chaplain to the 5th TA Battalion of
the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in
North East England.
His wife, Jacqueline, is also
ordained in the Church of England.
They list as their interests walking,
kayaking, swimming and squash,
all helpful interests in the cadet
world. Peter has had an interesting
and varied career in the church
since being ordained in 1991,
having worked in parishes in
London, Dorset and South Yorkshire
and been a prison chaplain in two
of those locations.
During his first annual camp
with Cumbria at Barry Buddon,
near Dundee, he organised an open
air church parade on the middle
Sunday which he made particularly
relevant to the cadets by linking
the values of the ACF with those
of a Christian way of life. He was
always present at sick parades
and visited the one cadet sent
to hospital with a broken ankle,
transporting him home once he
had received treatment. The most
valuable part of his work was the
fact that he made himself readily
available to the cadets and staff
both on an off duty in order to offer
spiritual and moral advice on any
subject that was of concern to the
individual.
The work of a chaplain is
difficult to evaluate, because
most of it is, by its very nature,
confidential, however, there is no
doubt that many young cadets, and
not a few adults, discover a whole
new spiritual life as a result of this
work. Chaplains, wear uniform
and tend to be accepted naturally
because they are not set apart by
clerical dress and they may be the
first member of the clergy that a
member of the ACF has ever talked
to at any length.
Rev Peter Turnbull talking
to cadets in the field.
Cumbria ACF current, padre after
the Rev David Thom, a Church of
Scotland minister, left his parish in
Paisley, in Scotland to take up an
appointment in Canada.
David was appointed as our
chaplain some years ago whilst
he was the minister for Carlisle
and Longtown and will be sorely
missed because his work with our
cadets and staff was outstanding.
Cumbria ACF has a
vacancy for an additional
chaplain. If any reader,
living in Cumbria, is
ordained, or knows of
someone who is, and can
spare the time to serve
with us, please contact:
Major Stephen Matthews
Tel: 01228 516222 (Office
hours) or: Major John
Bennett TD Tel: 017687
74358 (Home).
www.nwrfca.org.uk the volunteer 31