A STAR Wars fan, an astronomer and a fruit and veg gardener have all been ordained in ceremonies at Worcester Cathedral.

Three candidates have completed their first year’s training as curates and were ordained as priests on Saturday.

Six candidates became deacons on Sunday and enter their first year of curate training.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge, presided at both ceremonies. He said: “Ordination services are a great celebration of God’s call to serve.”

It has been a long journey for Peter Davies, who first got the call when he was 15.

Now, 50 years later, he is a deacon at All Saints in Worcester. His career in the financial markets took him to Madrid. He speaks Spanish and has also worked in the City of London.

Since coming to Worcester in 2001, he has served as a Reader and in the city centre chaplaincy. Peter enjoys astronomy and has two adult daughters and a granddaughter.

Nick Daw, who has joined the Worcester South East Team as a deacon, was called even earlier at the age of five.

Born in Worcester, he is married with two children. He has been working in the private sector, having studied sociology and social psychology at Worcester and Warwick Universities.

He is a fan of all six Star Wars films and enjoys the music of Pink Floyd and Bach.

Barbara Wheatley is to join the Bowbrook Group of parishes in the Droitwich area as a deacon. She moved to Worcestershire in 2001 from rural Northumberland where she helped run a small organic hill farm.

Barbara has studied sculpture and contextual art and design. She has two grown up daughters.

New priest Hazel Charlton has spent her first year with the Worcester South East Team. The church has become an itinerant one since the Ronkswood building closed in December.

She said: “This year has given me vast experiences in church activities and services. The best thing for me really is community.”

Richard Tweedy has spent his first year in Martley and Worcester West and is now a priest. He says a highlight has been setting up a cafe church in Wichenford.

He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first year as a curate. The Martley area is a great place to serve. Having been a townie all my life until now, I’ve also enjoyed battling with the thick clay soil here, and growing fruit and veg.”

The third priest is Richard Bubbers who serves in Ipsley, Redditch and the other deacons are Carey Saleh in Bromsgrove, Bridget Woodall in Brierley Hill and Tom Fish at Christchurch in Lye.