Meet the Team at Fakenham Parish Church
Rector: Reverend Francis Mason – revmason@btinternet.com – Tel: 01328 862268
Francis was ordained in 1990 and with the exception of his curacy, has worked mainly in rural churches. For the last seven and a half years has served in the Tendring Peninsula in North East Essex with oversight of four parishes and more generally as a Missioner. He has four grown up children and four grandchildren. His interests include sailing (although sadly he had to sell his boat before moving here), walking, art and photography, DIY and is a passionate gardener with an RHS qualification in horticulture. Francis is looking forward to working in the context of a market town where everything is within a few minutes walking distance of the front door. He is married to Gill, who worked at the Hospice in Colchester recruiting and looking after the volunteer workforce.
Reader: Elaine Burbidge – elaine@fakenhamparishchurch.org.uk – Tel: 01328 851848
Elaine has been a Reader at Fakenham Parish Church since 1984. Both she and her husband Roger are retired primary school teachers. They have two grown up sons and two young grandsons. As an amateur geographer Elaine has a deep interest in the whole of creation – God’s world and his people. She enjoys travel to explore the world, seeking fresh insights through the experience. She is also a founder member of the current incarnation of Fakenham Bowmen, having taken up archery as a teenager in Shropshire long ago!
Reader: Amanda Sands – amanda@fakenhamparishchurch.org.uk – Tel: 01328 878218
Amanda was brought up in Fakenham where she attended the High School before leaving Norfolk to train as a nurse. Amanda is married to Fred and has a daughter and twin sons and now works full time in the family farming and haulage business. As part of her work in the church she is Chaplin to the ATC. Amanda became a reader in 2009 and is looking forward to being able to utilise the many skills obtained through her professional and personal life and through the training in serving the Church.
Linda Frost – linda@fakenhamparishchurch.org.uk – Tel: 01328 862919
Linda has been a reader since 1998 having been a member of Fakenham Parish Church for most of her life.
She is a former primary school teacher having taught in several Norfolk primary and first schools.
Linda is married to Michael. Linda is keen on sci-fi and loves ‘messing about’ on her computer, she loves cross-stitch and dressmaking and is an avid Norwich City supporter.
Due to ill health she had to retire as a reader in Easter 2014, but has the Bishop’s ‘Permission to Officiate’, which means she will carry on taking some Services and the occasional funeral.
Churchwarden: Alison Harding – alison@fakenhamparishchurch.org.uk – Tel: 01328 864685
Alison grew up in Devon, the daughter of a GP and a teacher, and travelled extensively before and after she married her husband Jim, eventually settling in Fakenham in 1979. They became active and committed members of the community. Alison became a full time Science teacher at the High School in 1986, and retired in 2012. She and Jim have three grown up sons, all of whom did well at the three Fakenham Schools and College, and have been active members of the Parish Church. She runs the serving team and has trained others in this role, including many young people. She is Chair of the Norwich Chapter of the (now International) Company of Servers. Alison has been a member of the PCC for many years.
Churchwarden: Roger Burbidge – Tel: 01328 851848
I spent my working life as a Primary School teacher in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, moving to Norfolk in 1972. Married to Elaine (see above) I am now retired.
Apart from church my main interest is choral music. To this end I sing in the Church Choir, the Fakenham Choral Society and the Thornhill Singers.
Other interests (when I have time!) are reading, walking and pottering in the garden.
Church Treasurer: June Berry – Tel: 01328 863643
The Rectory Office 01328 862268,
Email: fakenhamparishchurch@gmail.com
