A NEW vicar soon to be in harness in Oswaldtwistle had a previous job looking after the clothes and kit of the Horseguards.

The Rev Paul Watson, who is to be the new vicar of Immanuel and All Saints, also lists collecting railway timetables as one of his hobbies.

The father-of-four, who has also taught in Kenya where he met his wife, Janet, is currently team vicar of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

He sees work with families as one of his main priorities.

Mr Watson, 40, said: "I enjoy working with young people and have worked a lot with schools, which I hope to continue.

"I feel it is important, though, that the Church does not just work with children in isolation but with families as a whole.

"We have a great love for the North and have always wanted to return," added Mr Watson, whose wife has relatives in Haslingden. The couple have four children, Ruth, nine, Helen, seven, Peter, four and Katherine, two.

As a family they enjoy swimming, walking and travelling.

"Hence my interest in railway timetables!" he said.

Mr Watson was brought up in Great Yarmouth and went to Huddersfield, where he gained a degree in history and politics.

He then took a job with the Ministry of Defence in London, where part of his brief including looking after the uniforms and kit of the Horseguards and their horses.

In 1980 he went to Kenya with the Church Missionary Society to teach English

He returned to England in 1983 and trained for ordination at St John's College, Nottingham.

He will be licensed to his new post at 3pm on Saturday, September 21, by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters.

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