Meet our married couple - Eleanor and Alan Gordon;

Originally from Glasgow in Scotland, we've lived in Tamworth for just over a year (when Alan became vicar of St Editha's) before which we were in a parish outside Winchester for almost thirteen years. We have been blessed with two lovely and accomplished daughters and four grandchildren - three boys and one girl who was born in June this year. 

Alan - I worked for a bank on leaving university and then as a lecturer in Risk and Financial Services in Glasgow Caledonian University. For a few years I played in a Christian band as well as taking part in Christian missions in Italy and France. I helped lead the youth work in our local church, and then became one of the church leaders. 

I was ordained in the Church of England in June 1998 in Winchester Cathedral. I served as a curate for four years and a further twelve as a parish priest in the Winchester area. Whilst serving as Area Dean for Winchester, I became involved with the Deanery's link Diocese in Africa, which happened to be Muhabura, Uganda just to the north of Rwanda. Eleanor and I were guests of the Bishop and on our way back to the UK we visited a friend in Byumba and I am looking forward to returning to the land of a thousand hills. 

Eleanor - I trained as a nurse in Glasgow where I worked at Yorkhill Children's Hospital until I married Alan.  After this I went into general nursing until moving to England with Alan and our daughters as he began training for ministry. 

Our church in Glasgow had an active ladies work including breakfasts and outreach. I helped organise these events and took part in seminars that we organised. I was also involved with the mothers and toddlers group, which provided good experience for starting one in the church in Winchester as well as a ladies breakfast. 

A period in District Nursing and palliative care followed before training in cancer care as a chemotherapy nurse. Latterly I became an Oncology Sister and Chemotherapy Specialist Nurse with responsibility for developing and running a busy chemotherapy unit and training chemotherapy nurses. I felt very privileged caring for people and families at a vulnerable time in their life. 

I have just retired; am open to new challenges and am looking forward to this opportunity of visiting and sharing with fellow-Christians in Byumba and Gasabo Dioceses.