On Thursday, 3rd July at 5:30pm, Brian and I were privileged to be able to attend the Salisbury Cathedral Eucharist, presided over by Archdeacon Alan Jeans, with Bishop Stephen acting as Deacon for him, to mark his retirement.

It was a wonderful, and emotional, service held in the quire. We actually sat in the choir stalls. It was a very well attended service by members from across the Diocese, followed by refreshments.

Alan, and his wife Anita, were both thanked for their dedicated service and they were presented with vouchers from the Diocesan collection amounting to £1,350.00 and growing. Anita also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

When interviewed for the Diocesan website, Alan was asked for his memorable moments:-“Special moments would include becoming a Cathedral Canon and serving nine years on the Cathedral Chapter; engaging in local Benefice and Deanery Mission weeks with Bishop Stephen Conway; and marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta in 2015 and attending a reception at the British Library where all four surviving copies of the Magna Carta were displayed together – and our Cathedral has the best copy by far!

In 2002, just before becoming the Archdeacon, I was appointed an Army chaplain, working with Wiltshire Army Cadet Force, keeping me in ministry amongst young people. This army chaplaincy has brought a close working relationship with the British Army, and their chaplains, and we are proud to work in cooperation with the large military presence across the Diocese. My work with young people also continues in the Diocese in visiting the many Church of England Schools, and community schools across the Archdeaconry.

One of my lesser-known contributions was to the situation comedy, REV – where I was the consultant Archdeacon for series three. Yes, I was the Archdeacon who put The Reverend Adam Smallbone [Tom Hollander] through his Clergy Discipline Measure, after he was caught kissing the primary school Head Teacher. I was invited to the screening of the first episode in St Leonard’s Shoreditch, aka St Saviour’s in the Marsh, where I met the cast.

Week by week though, nothing exceeds serving the servants of God, resourcing the clergy and lay ministers in their local context; and worshipping Sunday by Sunday in different parish churches, preaching and presiding as a priest. It never fails to lift heart and soul to heaven and is a wonderful counterpoint to all those never-ending weekday meetings and PCCs!"

Sue and Brian Stanley