Fr Ray & June Chapman

June and I were very touched by the words of welcome given to us on our return to St. George's. I am greatly looking forward to being with you and working with Father Mike, being available for ministry alternate Sundays and Thursday and Friday during term time. Fr Mike and I are developing my particular responsibilities and role in the months ahead. It is difficult to plan too far ahead until I have had my prostate operation.

Born in Leicestershire in 1941 moving to Derbyshire only to be evacuated back owing to the bombing around Derby. Eventually I returned back to Swadlincote spending my formative years between Industrial Derbyshire and the Farm in Leicestershire where I was born. Owing to both my parents being quite ill I left school at the age of 15 to work down a coal mine as a 'pony lad' underground, which meant I took supplies to the coalface with a small horse pulling a train of small trucks. This was a hard introduction to the reality of a working life. Eventually I left and trained as a potter in the Clay Industry which I greatly enjoyed, working at my potting wheel, continuing to do so until I returned to my education at St. John's College Nottingham and then to The Bishop's Hostel Lincoln to train for the Priesthood.

My Ordination in 1971 was a joyful occasion and I served my title in Dronfield North Derbyshire moving to the Newcastle Diocese as a Vicar in Northumberland and then Newcastle City Centre. I was also a member of the North East Industrial Mission being chaplain to Wills Embassy and then Blyth Harbour Docks. It was whilst in Northumberland I served in the Life Boat Service for five years. After seventeen years in parish ministry I trained in Mental Health first as a Psychiatric Nurse in a large Mental Hospital and then as a Community Psychiatric Nurse until I moved to Portsmouth to first manage The Robert's Centre for homeless families and then the Mental Health Hostels for the Portsmouth Housing Trust.

In 1992 I was seriously ill with osteomyelitis and endocarditis, which destroyed my aortic heart valve and this was replaced with a prosthetic valve saving my life. On my eventual rehabilitation I specialised in Bereavement and Mental Health Therapy whilst, 'in my spare time', covered for over seventeen interregnums and vacancies within the Diocese, including Acting Social Responsibility Advisor for eighteen months. I organised and ran numerous Bereavement Courses whilst giving some of my time to the Rowan's Hospice Bereavement Service and Day Centre, where I continue to be involved. I still do some Mental Health Counselling.

June is a true Geordie with the 'fog on the Tyne' running through her veins! She taught in the fishing community of Sea Houses, Northumberland for a while. We have been married for fifteen years. She has been a schoolteacher for the last 26 years and is currently a full time Infant teacher with responsibility for R.E., and History in a Portsmouth school. We both passionately support Newcastle United whilst June's brother supports Sunderland! This makes for an interesting dynamic!

Fortunately we share many interests, which include walking, especially the Lakeland Fells, gardens, theatre, football, cricket and wandering in our motor home. I am a keen amateur photographer especially in digital imaging having some success in competitions. I am also a member of the National Trust Talks Service and give talks about some of their properties.

We are looking forward to settling down now within St. George's church family after so many years working and worshipping with many different parishes. It is good to have a spiritual base at last.

Fr Ray and June