A retired seafarer turned priest, and a priest who was instrumental in the campaign for women bishops, are setting off on Monday to kayak 85 miles along the River Ouse, raising money for two charities.
86 year old Patrick Forbes, who is a former Merchant Navy Radio Officer, is teaming up with Christina Rees, who was awarded a CBE for services to the Church of England and who is now Associate Priest at St Peter’s Church, Sheringham.
They’re planning to kayak from Bedford to King’s Lynn for the Tibbs Dementia Foundation and the Li Tim-Oi Foundation, which supports women around the world.
Christina told Premier: “Patrick’s wife, Annette, is now in a care home specifically for people with dementia, and he was her carer for over seven years. He is so grateful for the care home, Tibbs Dementia Care, who have been absolutely brilliant and he wanted to say Thank You.
“And he knows that I’m the director of an international charitable foundation called the Li Tim Oi Foundation. It’s the name of the first woman who was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church.
“So, it’s something I believe in very, very deeply, and I'm glad to kayak for them, and hopefully people will give, and then we can send the money off to help and enable more women to follow their call.”
On Monday, after a blessing by the Bishop of Bedford Rt Rev Richard Atkinson, the pair will set off in a two-seater kayak, although Patrick has never kayaked before. Christina said: “He’s the brave one here. I'm just doing what comes naturally. I grew up on a sailboat from the age of five, and my parents sold our house and the car and gave away the dog, and put my sister, brother and me on a little wooden sailboat. That was our home for many years; I love the sea.”
Christina’s husband, Chris, and Patrick’s son, Stephen, will be their support team, driving along the route with extra clothing and food. Both Patrick and Christina are writers and broadcasters, as well as priests, and are looking forward to being inspired and challenged by their tandem voyage:
“It feels like we're old fashioned pilgrims. It's a mission on the water. When people find out about it and the fact that I’m a Christian and ordained there are always so many questions. So it is mission and ministry and people have been wishing us well.
“I'm going to take a journal and write in it every night, because I expect there'll be some spiritual challenge in there as well. There will be times, I'm sure when I'll feel like giving up or something will happen, and that's when you draw deep and you pray. The wonderful thing is that Patrick and I can pray together.
“It will also be an immersion in nature. And to me, I see God in the creatures and that just gives me such joy.”
Donations can be made in support of the Li Tim-Oi Foundation, Tibbs Dementia Foundation or Just Giving.