I express my joy at a visit to the Salvation Army Farm at Hadleigh.
I am a former police officer and I have been dealing with the farm for more than 39 years.
My first encounter was as a young uniformed officer when I was introduced to the farm manager and a few of the residents in the then hostel, now pulled down.
From my first visit I realised the Salvation Army was an organisation that actually did something for people others had given up on.
I met pickpockets, alcoholics and others all trying to put their lives back on track. They were mainly from London and treated me with suspicion, but over the years I made many friends and on one particular visit I chatted with a really nice old boy.
As I left, I asked him what he was his "form"
was; he replied he was a pickpocket.
As I left he handed me my wallet and smiled saying: "It is done for crime prevention purposes nowadays!"
As I was a young PC, that experience actually taught me much in life, especially useful for the 30 years ahead of me in the police service.
On another visit there I had to speak to an elderly resident who lived in one of the Salvation Army's homes.
She was in her 90s and told me stories of her life as a missionary and how she remembered the British Army wearing red coats.
What I did learn from the friends I made on the farm was that the Salvation Army was an organisation that actually practised what they preached with many army officers devoting their entire lives to their religion.
I hadn't been on the farm for a long time, but recently took our 16- month-old grandson for a walk.
I was delighted to see how much effort has gone into the entire farm, with the tearooms and the rare breeds area, which was a delight.
Many of the young workers there remembered me from my days as the local policeman who used to visit their old school in Thundersley, Cedar Hall.
The farm is a real asset to the area and well worth a visit. It is great to see the farm is fulfiling its original purpose of serving the people.
Gordon Sinclair
Benfleet
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