A very fond farewell to Alex, our coordinator of many years…

Debbie Thrower
Mar 22, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Mar 23, 2023

Alex Burn and Debbie Thrower, as gifts are opened at the BRF offices in Abingdon yesterday.

Every member of the Anna Chaplaincy network knows Alex Burn who has been our coordinator since 2015, and each one has benefited from her guidance and nurturing. ‘It’s with much sadness that we say farewell to Alex’, writes Debbie Thrower (pioneer of Anna Chaplaincy), ‘but we appreciate that this is the right time for her’.

‘Alex has made an enormous contribution to the shape and growth of Anna Chaplaincy and we all owe her a great debt. She is simply the best colleague one could ever wish for!’

Alex announced that she would be leaving at the end of March when an email was sent to each network member last week. She explained, ‘After being part of Anna Chaplaincy for eight years, I have taken the difficult decision to step down and so will be leaving on 31 March. I have been privileged to be part of seeing the network grow from the first Anna Chaplain, Debbie Thrower, to over 280… and ever-growing!’

‘It will be hard to say goodbye, but I know that through all your love and enthusiasm for the ministry, Anna Chaplaincy will continue to flourish and expand.’

‘Fortunately, for the past months,’ said Debbie, ‘Alex has been working closely with Marian Muskett who was appointed as our second coordinator last year, so the work remains in safe hands. BRF does intend to recruit an additional part-time coordinator in due course, though. So watch this space if you are interested in joining our team.’

We are hoping to persuade Alex to join us for the Anna Chaplaincy Network Gathering in the autumn – 8–9 November at High Leigh in Hertfordshire (booking will open before long) – as we are sure many of you would like to thank her in person for all she has done to nurture the network. But, in the meantime, if you would like to send your good wishes, you may write to Alex via annachaplaincy@brf.org.uk.