A Padre's view from Camp

A Padre tailgates up North!

As a Yorkshireman, born and bred, I was very proud to be asked to support Yorkshire (North and West) Annual Camp at Otterburn in 2007 as their Padre. What a Camp that was, I even got to Bless a rocket!

Some people warn against returning to somewhere you have really enjoyed, in case you are disappointed that things are not as good as you remembered! When I was asked to return for another Camp with Yorkshire I jumped at the chance, as Paratroopers tend to! Far from disappointed, it has been great to return to a Cadet County which is switched on, ‘can do' and great fun.

I gave each Cadet a card, with The Lord's Prayer on one side and Cadet Prayer on the other, a prayer written as much about Cadets as for Cadets. To remind us who we are, what we are about, what our responsibilities are to one another, what motivates us as Cadets and Instructors.

Jesus said that we should "love one another as we love ourselves." Some people find his words hard to understand, they are really quite simple but hard to do! Unless we are confident about ourselves, love ourselves, then it is hard to go out and care for others. Show me a bully and I will show you someone who lacks confidence in him or herself, which is why they go and work out their problems on others! If nothing else, The Army Cadet Force ought to make us confident that we are all special individuals with special gifts to be used in the service of others.

Among the confidence building activities engaging Yorkshire (N&W) Cadets this year at Warcop are a Squadron of Chinook Helicopters. The aircrew are training at nearby Catterick and have been using Yorks Cadets to practice troop movement. Naturally as Padre I took the opportunity to sit on the tailgate of one and photograph the one following - as I sang the hymn ‘Nearer my God to Thee!"

Please have a look at my web site and learn about my Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and The Coldstream Guards. Web site: http://www.berwickparishchurch.btik.com/