A NEW vicar for Winchcombe has rolled into town.

John Partington, a motorcycle enthusiast and a member of the Campaign for Real Ale, was

officially licensed by the Bishop of Tewkesbury on Friday.

As well as his work with the church, Mr Partington has spent time working with refugees in

the former Yugoslavia and recently crossed the Pyrenees with a donkey.

He said he was looking forward to channelling his energies into his new parish, which includes Gretton, Sudeley and Stanley Pontage.

He will also become Team Rector for a number of other parishes, including Alderton,

Dumbleton, Wormington, Buckland, Snowshill, Toddington, Stanton, Didbrook, Hailes and Stanway.

"I have already found that folks here are very friendly and I have had a warm welcome," he

said.

"I am looking forward to building on all the good things that are already here and strengthening links between the local parishes."

He added that he felt particularly honoured to be the latest incumbent of St Peter's Church. "It is a delightful church with a marvellous history but it is also very much a living community and one that looks to the future."

Mr Partington is in his forties and married with three children.

The two eldest are at university, while the youngest is looking forward to joining Winchcombe School. His wife, Liz, formerly worked for the Surrey youth offending team and is looking for a similar role in the Cotswolds.

They also have a golden retriever called Purdy, who is looking forward to discovering the countryside around Winchcombe.