Prior to his retirement in 2019 Nigel served 30 years as a police officer with West Yorkshire Police. His experience in his specialised role of Roads Policing saw him develop additional responsibilities as Road Death Family Liaison Officer, Casualty Bureau and Road Death Senior Investigation Officer. He also completed a post graduate diploma in Disaster Victim Identification at the University of Dundee.
Nigel’s broad experience of policing has equipped him well to understand the pressures of modern day policing. Stress and trauma to some degree invariably accompany every policing role. Since 2019 Nigel has fulfilled the role of Chaplain within the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, Major Collision Enquiry Team and Counter Terrorism Unit. He has also developed training resources for the broader chaplain team of West Yorkshire Police.
Nigel now works as a Chaplain Manager for a Christian charity which provides crisis trained chaplains who respond to community crises. He and his team have provided chaplain support to the church response at events as diverse as terrorist incidents (Westminster, London Bridge, Manchester), the Grenfell Tower fire and numerous flooding events across the UK. Internationally, Nigel has worked in a chaplain role in Haiti in response to the cholera outbreak, wildfires in the US and terrorism in Belgium.
When not deployed, Nigel develops and delivers training designed to equip the church to provide appropriate care and support to those experiencing grief and trauma – both in crisis situations and in the everyday challenges of life. He has undertaken multiple training courses including Individual Crisis Support, Group Support, Pastoral Crisis Intervention, Grief Following Trauma and Suicide Intervention/Prevention. These training courses have been provided by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Nigel is currently working towards being an accredited trainer with this organisation.
Educated to degree level at the College of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth, Nigel studied Theology with English and American Literature. Married with two adult children Nigel enjoys photography, exercise, eating out and travel.
A committed Christian, Nigel’s ethos is that Chaplaincy is an appropriate and effective means of providing much needed support; speaking to the whole person including physical, emotional, behavioural and where appropriate spiritual needs. This being implemented through empathy, understanding, compassion, a strong foundational training and above all, a pastoral heart for all – those of faith or no faith.
Nigel recognises that chaplaincy plays a part of a range of support mechanisms for officers and staff. His aspiration to join the board of trustees is based upon his desire to see chaplaincy remaining a faith based relevant, accessible and professional team in all of its functions, particularly in demonstrating ongoing training and development of the chaplain. At its core Chaplaincy embodies the principle of St. Martin - that we are willing to ‘share the cloak of compassion’ with those who are in need and in the words of Jesus, ‘we love our neighbours as ourselves.’
