Changes in the office
Goodbye to Joshua
Joshua Wathanga left us at the end of January. He arrived in December 2006 for a six month term as a 'change manager' and graciously stayed more than a year to see the office move into the new building and to oversee the transition into departments. His first act after leaving was to visit his native Kenya as an ambassador for IFES, to show solidarity with his countrymen at this very difficult time. We will miss him.
Hello to Marcus
Overlapping with Joshua, Marcus Watkins started at the beginning of January as Head of Finance and Administration. He came to us after a short contract at Jews for Jesus involving finance and IT, and before that was Director of Finance at All Nations Christian College.
He had previously been an IT consultant for eight years and had developed his IT specialisation, from an accounting background, during his seven years at KPMG. When Marcus left grammar school in Godalming, he did accountancy training for two years, and then went to the European Missionary Fellowship Bible College for another two years. This was followed by several years' pastoral work at churches in Putney and East Horsley, before a return to accountancy. 'I realised that my primary gifting was in administration' he says.
Marcus is married to Jennifer, who is a church visitor and carer, and they have two adult children – Jonathan, married to Heather, who works for Scripture Union in Scotland, and Rachel, married to Matt, who manages a care home in Sheffield.
Marcus is an elder at Longmeadow Evangelical Church in Stevenage, and relaxes by reading historical novels, watching all sports (especially being an armchair supporter of Yeovil Town FC), and he and Jennifer are looking forward to going to their ninth Greek island this summer.
'I was really knocked out by the Student Conference' he says, appreciating the opportunity to provide strong administrative support to CMF's exciting ministry. 'Please pray that I may have all the necessary wisdom and discernment for the many decisions I have to take, and that I may achieve a good work-life balance.'
Congratulations
Jennifer Bute – FRCGP
Ruth Nduati – the ICMDA HIV Initiative 'Dignity and Right to Health Award' 2007 for clinical, educational and research work in Kenya
Mark Perry – appointed consultant rheumatologist at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Rachael Pickering – MRCGP with merit
Allister Vale – Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (for 25 years' service with the MRCP exam)
Obituaries
Murray Baker (q Cambridge & Barts 1950; d 10 May 2007) lived almost 20 years after a liver transplant. He held clinical and educational appointments in Uganda and became administrative dean at Makerere Medical College. Back in the UK he worked for the Medical Research Council and the Overseas Development Administration.
Ian Burnell (q Cardiff 2006; d 2007). The fact of Ian's death was reported to CMF in September.
Margaret Dodson (q Sheffield 1957; d 29 January 2008) became a consultant anaesthetist at Liverpool Royal Infirmary. She had been a lay reader at All Souls' Church, Springwood, Liverpool and died peacefully after a long illness.
John Hobson (q Barts 1946; d 14 September 2007) served as a medical missionary, primarily doing ophthalmology, in Burma from 1952-66 and in India from 1969-87. In retirement in Bournemouth he was active in offering hospitality to overseas students.
Outgoing
- Giles Cattermole (Oxford) to Hong Kong
- Brian Cleaver (Charing Cross & Westminster) to Sweden
- Rachel Corman (Bristol) to USA
- Nicola Deamer (UCL) to United Arab Emirates
- Jed Dixon (Oxford) to USA
- Wan Kwong Lee (BTL) to Malaysia
- David Masters (Guy's) to Sudan
- Andrea Nies (Germany) to Australia
- Deborah Pitt (St George's) to USA
- Richard Renew (Cardiff) to New Zealand
- Jennifer Watson (Nottingham) to Pakistan
Homecoming
- Andrew Boorne (St Mary's) from Papua New Guinea
- Tamsin Booth (Southampton) from Canada
- Richard & Wei Mei Crowson (GKT) from New Zealand
- Mary Cusack from India
- Anthony Males (Cambridge) from India
- Catherine Morris (Bristol) from India
- Kate Osborn (Sheffield) from USA
- Felicia Wong (GKT) from Canada
- Change of address abroad
- Michael Cotton (St Thomas') from Zimbabwe to Switzerland
- Martin Seccombe (GKT) from New Zealand to Japan
Regional CMF meetings
See www.cmf.org.uk
