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meet the staff

graham archer - vicarchris halls - associate ministerpaul ashman - curatenick hutchinson - youth & student pastorsammy jordan - children & families pastorpete maidment - youth pastorkelly worthington - church office managerdoug wakeling - church office managermaxine badrock - pa to graham archermanjit virdee - facilities managermaureen marshall - admin assistant

graham archer

Graham has been vicar of Highfield since 1999 when he moved to Southampton from Felixstowe. He is married to Di, who has written for various Christian publications. They have three children, Judy who is married and is living in the States at present, Paul who is studying at university, and Amy who is the sixth form.

Graham has a wide range of interests – he is willing to try his hand at most instruments - and most sports. He also rides a Suzuki 1157cc motorbike.

He chairs the Southampton Christian Network and is on the steering committee for Christian in Science. He is a popular speaker and has often spoken at New Wine events and occasionally at Spring Harvest.

chris halls

Favourite Places where we have lived: Bristol (met Jan at Uni), Oxford (teaching qualificiation), Exeter (teaching, then working for a church), Nairobi (teaching at a Bible College), Exeter (for a few months before moving to…) Niagara Falls (principal of a Christian school), Vancouver (principal of another one), Exeter (Again! Working for a church before moving to) Southampton.

Favourite family: parents (Oxford), two brothers and sister, daughter (Toronto) and her family and our 3 grandchildren, son (Vancouver)

Favourite things: crystalized ginger, iPod Touch, good running shoes, digital camera, my maps and books, Canadian stamp collection, instant custard, red wine

Favourite websites: BBC, Version Tracker, Google scholar, …and computer programs: Google Earth, Accordance Bible, Keynote

paul ashman

I’m married to Thaya and we have two children, William and Isabelle, both a bundle of fun and energy! My favorite use of time is to be out with my family, I adore them all.

I come from New Zealand and I spent my former years either on the mountains or on the waves. I moved from beautiful NZ to work in the mosquito, snake and scorpion infested South Sudan, and then followed that up with a period in the Talib run capital Kabul in Afghanistan in 2001.

My favorite food is a tie between Lebanese and Thai.

My favorite interests are all outdoor, but these days I only manage a day or two of cycling or hiking and fly fishing.

Finally I love chocolate.

sammy jordan

I am married to Shaun with two children - Emily and Ben. I came down to Southampton after University in Oxford to be a Student Pastoral Assistant at Highfield. After time as a teacher and teacher trainer, I became the Highfield's Children and Families Pastor.

When I was younger I wanted to be: A nurse (until I realised I didn't like blood, kind of crucial really), then a nanny

Favourite food: Chocolate - any way shape or form but no nuts that would just ruin it!

Favourite item of clothing: Only one? I have three wardrobes!

Guilty pleasure: Neighbours (there, I've said it). I could add Desperate Housewives, Grand Designs and X Factor too!

Biggest Excuse: I was born in Manchester so I'm allowed to support Manchester United

nick hutchinson

'I was born in west London and then grew up in many places as my dad's job moved, but spending most years in Leicester. After my A levels I worked in Newcastle Upon Tyne doing a year out, with Oasis. This really shaped my life and my work with teenagers, students and street people there was an amazing experience. After studying Jewish History and Hebrew at UCL and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem I trained as a teacher and then got into youth work in churches in London. My second job was in the glorious Portsmouth and then I moved here to Highfield.

My interests are film, opera, I like to go to the gym, and love the music and message of U2. Young people are the best, full of intelligence, energy, vision, passion and a desire to make a difference. Why would you want to work with anyone else? My goal in life is to live in the favour of Jesus and hopefully lead others to do the same.'

doug wakeling

I first came to Highfield Church in 1973, becoming a leader of the Pathfinders youth group for a time. I met my wife Jackie at Highfield and we were married here in 1976. We have 2 sons, both now happily married, and one grand-daughter.

In 1986, following a period of assessment for service with Mission Aviation Fellowship, we went as a family to Australia for two and a quarter years for pilot training, then from 1989 spent 8 years in Nairobi, Kenya, where I was initially Operations Manager and then Programme Manager with MAF.

In 1999 I accepted a position with Food for the Hungry UK; this appointment ended in March 2009.

I bet you didn’t know: I crashed my motorbike (into a JCB digger) 5 weeks before our wedding and had to hobble up the aisle on crutches & in a plaster.

kelly worthington

Hobbies... playing netball, squash, tennis and swimming (reluctantly)

Favourite food... chocolate, Galaxy or Dairy Milk, but definitely not expensive Thornton’s!

Biggest regret... Getting injured so often playing ladies football as a teenager. Oh how I miss footy!

Favourite item of clothing... Quicksilver hoodie

Favourite thing to do on my day off... Wining and dining with friends in the sunshine or in the winter months with a game of Settlers

Places I've visited... Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, Eastern Australia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, England and Wales (all in 11 weeks!)

Kelly is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her daughter

maxine badrock

Maxine Badrock has worshipped at Highfield Church since moving to Southampton in 1976. She has been a member of the staff team since 1993 as Admin Assistant, then Administrator and now as PA to the Vicar.

She has trained as a 'Reader' and her principle Christian ministry outside of the church is with Winchester Prison and with ex-prisoners. She and Tony have been married for 38 years and have three daughters all now grown up, and two grandchildren.

Her interests when time allows include walking, swimming, cinema, books, gardening and seeing friends, (usually over meals!).