Clergyman's fond farewell to Bexhill

A SKATEBOARD accident kept Rev Daniel Smith in Bexhill longer than he bargained for.

His broken knee meant he was unable to take up a new post with the RAF, but now he is on the move again some five years after arriving as fresh-faced curate at St Peter’s church in Old Town.

Sunday will see his last service prior to leaving for St Peter’s, West Blatchington, with wife Zoe, their children Sam, Connie, and Tom, not forgetting Murphy the cocker spaniel.

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Daniel will become a rector when he is installed by the Bishop of Chichester on June 29, the feast day of St Peter and St Paul.

“I had to go sometime,” he told the Observer.

“I was disappointed a year ago because of the knee injury.

“I had been on the point of joining the RAF and was due to go to Cranwell in April 2010.

“But then I broke my knee in the skateboarding accident.

“It had seemed like a good idea...for my 40th birthday, not being able to afford a sports car, I thought I would have a skateboard instead.

“But that didn’t work out.”

He is looking forward to his new appointment and said: “It is a lovely parish, the poeple are very friendly and we are looking forward to the new challenge.

“But we have really enjoyed our time here.

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“There is so much to do, and we have enjoyed the seafront with the DLWP - even the shelters - and honeycomb ice cream from di Paolo’s - all those fantastic things.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of everybody in Bexhill.

“Big thanks to my colleagues and parishioners of St Peter’s who have helped us prepare for the future.”

PICTURED: Rev Daniel Smith with his family