Dave’s an ordained priest in the Church Of England, film fan and sports addict.
Let’s unpack that a little.
I was privileged to be bought up in a Christian home, my faith becoming my own about the age of 16. I studied English, worked in schools in Aberdeen (Scotland) and a homeless hostel in South London. Then in 1998 I trained for ordained ministry, marrying Bev in the summer of 1999. That was a wise and blessed move!
Since 2001, I’ve worked in churches in East London (UK, not South Africa), Essex and South West London. In 2009 I was appointed to be Rector of St Peter’s Church, Mowbray, Cape Town. This was part of a long-standing call to South Africa.
As for the rest of life – I’m into my sport. Specifically…football (supported Arsenal as long as I can remember); cricket, NFL, rugby. I’m a bit of a geek about films; among my favourites would be Pan’s Labryinth, Bladerunner, Shaun Of The Dead, Trainspotting, and The Lord Of The Rings movies (but there’s others I love – it just depends on my mood). I love good stories of most sorts – books, TV shows, plays…anything that feels true. I love the music of U2, Kanye West, Radiohead, Coldplay, Martyn Joseph, REM…. Good food, fine wine or a bitter or a single malt whisky and good comopany are all easy ways to my heart. But most of all I love a big vision that will change people, communities and countries more into that which God wants them to be. That’s what I’m called to.
And then there’s Bev.
I’m a visionary by nature and social entrepreneur by profession. I was born in London and have never, until now, lived outside the M25. I was brought up in a Christian home and have pretty much been involved with church all my life.
I trained to be a primary school teacher at university until I realised how bad I would be at it so half-way through I changed my degree and became an IT geek instead, leaving university with a degree in IT.
While my friends all went off and got jobs in the IT business I went to work for a homeless project in Bermondsey, South London. That’s where I met Dave – one of the other members of staff, not a client.
Since then I’ve worked in a number of homeless projects, set up a homeless charity called Hope Initiatives, worked supporting charities in writing their business plans, a social enterprise called 2amase and most recently a second social enterprise called The Tool Factory which develops software and resources for other social entrepreneurs, charities and non-profits.
I also do some teaching at the University of East London on their social enterprise, NGO Management and International Development programmes.
In my spare time I enjoy going to the cinema, hanging out with friends – we’ve been getting quite into our weekly pub quiz as well.
The things I’m passionate about are enabling others to achieve their potential and using social enterprise to address social problems … I’m thinking there will be plenty of opportunities for me to get stuck and use my gifts.
