July 2008

In August the corps opens its arms to welcome to its new leaders, Majors Stuart and Gillian Dicker. Deputy Bandmaster Keith Johnston points out that history shows that over the years God has always sent officers that were right for that moment. So members of the corps are looking forward with anticipation to the blessings God is prepared to unleash under the ministry of Major & Mrs Dicker.

In order to get to know more about them before their arrival, Major & Mrs Dicker have provided a short biography:

"MAJORS Gillian and Stuart Dicker arrive at Hadleigh continuing a varied and fulfilling pathway in life.

Major Stuart is privileged to have been born into a SA family; his maternal great grandmother was a Catherine Booth convert, and Major Gillian came to the SA as young girl from an atheistic family background.  Both Stuart and Gillian hail from Dorchester Corps in Dorset, and it is from there they entered the Training College in 1978, commissioned as officers in 1980.  Stuart and Gillian received the call to this ministry individually and it was God who brought them together after a 10-year friendship as young people in the corps. Marriage in 1977 gave just 18 months before entry into college. 

Stuart and Gillian are proud of their two daughters – Katrina, a teacher in the largest Primary School in England is married to David and lives in Barking, and Victoria, engaged to Jamie, lives in Bristol and enjoys her work at Logos House, SA Residential Centre as a project worker for the homeless.

Service as Salvation Army officers has allowed them to minister in varying places within the southern part of the UK, from Alderney (CI), Christchurch, Southampton, Merthyr Tydfil, Enfield, Barking, Wellingborough, a brief call at Hucknall for Major Gillian and at East Midlands DHQ for Major Stuart, and latterly at Eastbourne Citadel.

There have been many privileges in service through the years. Whilst in Wellingborough Gillian became a chaplain to an ex-servicemen association, and as she was the only lady within the Corps of Chaplains, her work was recognised with the Freedom of the City of London. It has been reported she is possibly the only SA Corps officer to have this honour.  Ministry at Eastbourne in recent years among homeless and vulnerable people proved to be very exciting, challenging and fulfilling. This work has grown to be the largest in the town, additional plans for future extension of this work is underway. The SA work amongst the homeless and vulnerable was recognised by an invitation to attend a Buckingham Palace Garden Party in 2007. Stuart attended with the community worker under whose leadership the work began to develop.

They both look forward to a ministry at Hadleigh Temple, renewing past acquaintances, and returning to the London North East Division. "

Further Reading:

War Cry Article (2003) about Major Gillian Dicker (PDF document: scroll to page 4 once connected)

Eastbourne press farewell article

Eastbourne press letter of thanks