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