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From the ‘Vicar’

In the Summer of 2005, I was working in London for a publishing company. I was in the midst of monthly interviews for ordination but, at that time, what was to come for myself personally and my family was still unknown to me. One particular day in July, I took a lunch break along with some colleagues and we walked the short distance from Westminster through Horseguard’s Parade to Trafalgar Square to join a growing crowd who had gathered to hear whether London were going to be getting the Olympics over Paris. I knew we weren’t the favourites but something in my guts felt that day it was worth being there and so I instigated a little company outing. I was right. The place erupted when IOC President Jacques Rogge simply said ‘London’.

I was jumping up and down cheering and on the phone to my wife in moments. There might have even been a few tears. I get like that sometimes.

Our first child had been born that January. I calculated quickly that she’d be seven and old enough to remember the Olympics by the time they came around and, let’s face it, the Olympics only come once in a lifetime. I think I decided there and then that, if we were to have further children, we ought to get on with it for that reason if no other! Sssh, don’t tell the wife.

A great deal has happened since - both for me and for our nation. You may not remember but the day after that Olympic announcement on 7 July 2005, the London transport network suffered a horrific co-ordinated bomb attack in which 52 people (including the bombers themselves) died.

Since then, the worldwide economy has struggled and suffered and now, financially speaking, the Olympics look like a tough ask. We’ve had a change of government of course and all sorts of things look a little different to six odd years ago.

For myself, I’ve been ordained, been through a curacy and I’m now leading churches. My daughter is now approaching her seventh birthday. Kerry and I did get on with it and our two boys were born in quick succession. While we don’t have many Olympic tickets, we do have some; enough to know we tasted and saw the Olympics when they came again to Britain.

Every new year is a chance to look back but mostly this time I am looking forward. 2012 is going to be a big year and not just because of the Olympics. We also have the Queen celebrating her diamond jubilee and, with those two events particularly in my mind, I’m wondering how West Malling, Offham and Kings Hill can come together as communities to celebrate and participate in these historic days. If you have thoughts, ideas or want to be part of planning, I’m interested to hear from you. 

I hope as you look back on 2011, you look back with thankfulness. For those for whom 2011 has been tough and a year to forget, my prayers and understanding are with you. One of the joys of the New Year, as indeed in the Christian faith’s understanding of death and new life in resurrection, is that there’s always a fresh chance to start again. So I may I wish you a happy new year - may 2012 be all you hope for.