633078
The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

WaterwaysChaplains750
Thrigby couple boost Waterways Chaplaincy  

With the addition of Pete and Tricia Gillett, the Waterways Chaplaincy Team has recorded a 100% growth in members. Mike Cadman reports.

The Waterways Chaplaincy Team on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is delighted to announce the appointment of Pete and Tricia from Eastgate Ministries in Thrigby. They join Angie Baldwin and myself, Mike Cadman, in the Team which has now been operational since March 2020.

We are part of the nationwide Waterways Chaplaincy, which has been working for many years assisting those who live and work on or near the waterways of the UK.

The venture into the Broads was a new concept, as is very much a holiday area and unlike the canals has no locks. But it is surprising how lives revolve around the Broads rivers. There are lots of liveaboards, both who move from mooring to mooring and those who live in the marinas and the numbers grow all the time. 

It has been so good to see how coming alongside people really works in practice and makes such a difference in the lives of those who struggle a little at times, for example if their houseboat sinks or they have no heating or have just been lonely during lockdown. 

All chaplains cover the whole of the Broads but have regular places to patrol. Pete and Tricia you will find at Oulton Broad or maybe having a picnic on a river’s edge, Angie at Upton and Brundall and Mike at Loddon and Stalham. 

We continue to be grateful to the Broads Authority and ‘Broads Beat’ for referring people to us for help at times and we are glad to be involved with them in making the Broads a better place. It is such a beautiful part of England.

Our duties involve everything from directing holiday makers and helping cruiser hirers to moor up to taking the water hose to their boats, directing people to the shops, and listening to the bereaved. Outboard motors have been taken for repair, bus passes and letters delivered, and some good chats have happened over the odd cup of coffee taken to the boat.    

We get to know the fisherman especially in the quiet season when they are out enjoying the fresh air and hopefully catching fish, but also meet those with real concerns for which we can provide a listening ear and sometimes information as to how to get a problem resolved.

if you see us out in our gilets, with Waterways Chaplain is in big letters on the back, please feel free to come and talk to us. We could love to chat to you and if we can help, we will. 

It is great being a Waterways Chaplain and if you are a Christian and love helping people and have a caring heart, it could be for you. You may look up all the information on www.waterwayschaplaincy.org.uk or contact me, Mike on mcjpbds@btinternet.com

Pictured above are (left to right) Mike Cadman, Angie Baldwin and Pete and Tricia Gillett

Eldred Willey, 23/07/2021

Eldred Willey
8962 views
To submit a story or to publicise an event please email: web@networknorwich.co.uk