Born and brought up in Northamptonshire, Bob came to ministry within a group of four rural parishes, where he grew to see God's year not only in the church's seasons but also in the seasons of the farming fraternity. Traditionally, the wide river valleys of the district, grazed cattle for leather for the boot and shoe industry which was predominant over half a century ago in the area, and later grew to the extent that leather had to be imported. Mixed arable was the norm away from the rivers, although Bob recalls that sheep freely grazed the golf course that he played as a young man.
Bob was ordained in Peterborough Cathedral and served on the Peterborough Diocese's Council for the Countryside whilst at the same time continuing to work as a Chartered Surveyor. Nearly twenty years ago, Bob moved to Portugal to serve the Church of England as Chaplain in the predominantly rural Algarve and later in Porto within the vineyards of the wine, Port, and fishing industries. Before returning to the UK Bob served as Area Dean to Portugal and Madeira. Soon after leaving Portugal, Bob served as a lead Chaplain to the Diocese of Europe's 'Camino Chaplaincy' in north west Spain.
Returning to the UK nearly ten years ago, Bob sought to resume his interest in rural ministry and soon discovered Borderlands, whilst continuing to help adjacent benefices with Sunday worship and other ministerial matters. He can often be found chatting with farmers at the Hereford Livestock Market, and for the last two years has organised the Chaplains' Rota for the Royal Three Counties Show.
Bob's wife, Diane is a Reader (Lay minister) and an Anna Chaplain (a minister to the elderly) and works in part with Borderlands. Their son, Tom, is Vicar of Thornaby-on-Tees, in North Yorkshire.