Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page. This collection is being made in memory of the Reverend John Hill MBE Royal Navy who died on the morning of 15 June 2010.
John's professional career was varied and most wide ranging, beginning in the Metropolitan Police where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Ordained into the Diocese of Southwark in 1990, John remained in the Metropolitan Police in a non-stipendiary capacity whilst at the same time serving as Assistant Curate in the Parish of Norward, before joining the Royal Navy as a Chaplain in January 1994.
During his naval service he spent much time at sea, including appointments as Chaplain of the Fourth Frigate Squadron and the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL, as well as serving as Chaplain of the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar and HMS SULTAN in Gosport, and most recently as Chaplain of the King's Chapel, .
Aside from his primary role as a naval chaplain, John was a lynch pin of the Royal Naval contingent of HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust for many years. Initially involved as a helper within the RN's Portsmouth Group, he soon became Treasurer of all the RN groups as well as leading the Portsmouth Group for the pilgrimage to in April 2010.
John loved his work with HCPT and gave it his all. He was one of the pilgrimage's great characters, a friend to literally hundreds within the Trust and in his element as he shepherded his team of helpers and children around the shrine. He was also remarkable in that no sooner had his feet touched the tarmac at the end of one pilgrimage than he would be straight down to planning for the next, whether in terms of funding, the programme or who would be taking part.
A man of enormous faith and wisdom, this drew the affection and respect of all he met. It was in recognition of his immense contribution to HCPT that three days before he died, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
John loved HCPT, because he cared, very deeply, about people and especially children. He was overjoyed when he and Caroline were blessed with the birth of Sebastian in the summer of 2009, and always found it hard to suppress his joy and pride whenever he spoke of either.
It is the wish of Caroline that this collection be arranged for HCPT, and we would like to think that John would have approved as well. The funds it generates will serve as a memorial to John, and will carry on his work for years to come. In the same way that our candles burn on in the grotto in Lourdes well after we have gone on our way, so will this fund keep John's memory alive in that place that he loved, and was loved, so much, by so many.
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