Dear Peter can this really be
That you attain your jubilee?
You look so young and keep so fit
Its very hard to credit it.
But 50 years ago today
You started on your chosen way,
And Bishop Claud in Peterborough
Ordained you. Then to Wellingborough,
a deacon first and soon a priest.
But 3 years on you moved south east
(Ah me, your were a pale young curate then),
And took your course to Huntingdon,
To Somersham in deepest  fen.
You stayed about 3 years and then
decided time to go to sea -
A chaplain in the King's navee.
A years you spent on foreign seas
pacific, New Zealand, Oz, the Japanese
You liked it - and I won't be dumb -
Acquired a proper taste for rum!
Home in "Andes" nineteen forty five
A job in Sherborne, nice to be alive -
A little spot of Dorset heaven
You stayed until 1957.
Gambia next was your vocation
Christi Kunda, mission station.
A five year stint till '62
Then home to woods and pastures new.
A six month spell in Gargrave - in the north
(A place near Skipton, Ilkley and so forth)
And now the summons came at last
Return South West and make it fast.
All Saints, Winkleigh, needs a vicar
Proceed at once - or even quicker!
You served this Devon parish well.
As many here today will tell.
However, back to Bath and Wells
Jack Horner called you now to Mells.
Time well spent and lots more friends.
Time for ME to make amends
For all this quite atrocious verse
At last I promise to be terse!
T'was at the end of seventy seven
long Sutton saw THAT TR7 -
The start of Gilbert Cowdray's time -
Vic and the Brig. were in their prime.
You'd found a comfortable abode -
A cottage in the Martock Road.
Gilbert moved on and Francis came
With Jill his wife - Chadwick the name.
Too short a stay, and soon to foller
The Rt RevBishop John S Waller.
All these vicars served us well,
but Peter in his hermit's cell
With dogs and violins and golf
Gave continuity - and saw them off!
Now William Burmans here to stay.
Recovered soon, we all must pray,
But while he's suffering on the sick list
He's got our veteran tricyclist
On hand to help if things are dire.
He'll also fiddle in the choir
3 inter-regnums seen - and ready now
To turn his hand back to the plough
Whenever sickness strikes - or woe.
Dear  Peter - you mustn't ever go.