THE COMMUNITY is preparing to bid farewell to the Petersfield Salvation Army Corps’ commanding officer after a decade of service in the town.

Captain Linda Read arrived at the Salvation Army Hall in Swan Street in July 2010 and is to say goodbye next Thursday (July 16), after ten years in charge.

Corps Sergeant Major Stephen Field said: “From the first day that Linda arrived, she has worked extremely hard, enabling the Salvation Army in Petersfield to continue to grow its community work, as well as its Christian mission.

“Linda has been instrumental in keeping the lunch club running on a Tuesday, where they normally see numbers of up to 40 people, and has also overseen parent and tots for much of her ten years.

“Linda has also run two Sunday meetings, or services, to provide different styles of worship.

“And she has led several other meetings like the weekly Come And Meet Each Other, Bible studies, public prayer events and helped out at weekly Junior Club.

“All this as well as organising various teas and events to raise funds for the work of the Salvation Army.”

Some of Linda’s work has included working with two town mayors on Christmas campaigns, and speaking at local and not-so local churches, as well being heavily involved in running the Petersfield food bank, especially during the coronavirus crisis.

In 2016, she organised a celebration for the Salvation Army’s 130th anniversary, which also commemorated the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Stephen added: “Recently, Linda found herself running around on a Sunday mornings to visit and deliver a planned service to members of the church who are not on email.

“Along with many other churches and organisations, Linda has also added Zoom to her vocabulary, as she has had to minister to other members of her congregation through modern methods.

“Saying goodbye to Petersfield during the current constraints is not easy for Linda, as she would have loved to have been able to say farewell properly to all those who she has worked with and known. We wish her well as she takes up her position as commanding officer of Tenby Salvation Army in South Wales.”