Until December 2004, he had worked at Wiggins Special Metals for 38 years, retiring as stores manager. Some years before, he felt a vocation for the ordained ministry, took part-time training in Ludlow, was ordained deacon in July 2000 and priest a year later. Which meant he wore his dog-collar during his last years at Wiggins.

Previously anglican ministers tended to enter the Church from university. After a year or two spent as a curate the minister was then ready to take responsibility for a parish. Clive’s route to the ministry is designed for someone who is ordained later in life. “I am a licensed rather than a stipendiary minister,” he says. He is paid to work as a community liaison officer, his brief being that of “a Christian working in the community for the benefit of the community, rather than just getting people into church”.

However, just to complicate things a little, he is also licensed by the Bishop of Hereford to conduct baptisms, weddings and funerals at St Francis church, opposite the Three Counties Hotel. For which he is not paid.

As a licensed minister his work is specifically in the South Wye area and it is unlikely he will move.

Chairing the Northolme meeting was “exactly the sort of issue I should be involved in as a community liason officer,” says Clive. “My contribution was not political in any way, but simply that of honest broker.” Since that meeting he has become a trustee of the subsequently formed Northolme Community Centre Association and hopes that the necessary work on the Centre is completed before the initial funding for his position runs out in 2007.

He admits to being pleased by the commitment shown by the NCCA but stresses that the centre should operate in a complementary rather than a competitive role with the Belmont Community Centre. He believes that some sort of shared management makes sense.

Needless to say Clive has other irons in the fire. He is chair of the South Wye Drugs Forum, works with the Sow and Grow Group at Marlborough Primary School, and provides RE and citizen-related education at Hunderton Primary and Junior schools. He also “makes himself available” at the Newton Farm Information Centre.

Away from his community activities he has been associated for 21 seasons with Hereford County Hockey Association where he is now honorary vice-chairman. He plays golf (“badly”) at the racecourse course and would like to get more involved with the Hereford Church Singers, of which his wife Linda is a member.

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