Padre Parkinson (58) who lives at Leverington with his wife Elizabeth, was commissioned (CF4) into the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department on 6^th April 2009 to minister to the 680 army cadets and 100 adults who make up the county cadet force and has recently taken up his new calling in earnest. 

Working alongside Senior Cadet Force Chaplain (CF3) The Reverend Alan Jesson TD, Padre Parkinson will now tend to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the youngsters and their instructors sharing with them their first tastes of adventure, challenge and achievement with fond memories of his own experiences as a young cadet.

After joining the cadet forces himself at the age of 13, Padre Parkinson later served six years with the Territorial Army followed by 24 years with the Regular Army in the Royal Engineers. His varied and interesting career in military construction resulted in his achieving the rank of Major. On leaving the army he became a lecturer in civil engineering at the College of West Anglia, Kings Lynn and also took up the cloth – being ordained into the Church of England in June 2007.

Speaking of his journey from soldier to shepherd of his new flock Padre Parkinson said, “A visit to a cadet annual camp during my ordination training opened up a whole new world for me”  “I got a great deal from my military and cadet service and I am now looking forward to ministering to young people and adults in the county army cadet force, assisting them not only in their cadet life but in all areas of their lives”.