The Salvation Army and me

All kinds of people attend, join, volunteer with or work for The Salvation Army. We’ve asked some to tell us about themselves. This week…

MAJOR GEOFF ASHDOWN Retired officer, Southend Citadel

How did you first come into contact with the Army? My friend at junior school was the son of Salvationists and went to cubs at Wood Green Corps. I went along with him and loved it!

What made you want to become a Salvationist? A very slow conviction over the years. I finally gave in to God walking home after an evening meeting at Wolves Lane, by the boating lake.

If you were to create a slogan for your life, what would it be? My school reports said I was a ‘slow and steady plodder who will get there in the end’. Too late to change now!

If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be? A bit more dosh – not a huge amount, but enough to get myself a really nice motorbike rather than the boring one I’ve got.

What do you do in retirement? After retirement I was the assistant officer at Hadleigh Temple for seven years, but I am a model railway enthusiast and have taken my layout Tower Pier to 11 exhibitions. Exhausting, but fun.

‘‘ My training officer at the International Training College told me I’d never last five minutes as an officer

’’

Which Bible figure would you like to meet and what would you ask them? Noah. I’d say: ‘Come on, mate, did you really have two of every kind of animal? Who cleaned out the elephants’ droppings?’

What is your favourite hymn or worship song? My commissioning song, ‘The Saviour Of Men Came To Seek And To Save’ (SASB 626).

Is there something you’ve never understood? Why they got rid of steam engines.

If you could rid the world of one thing, what would it be? Hatred.

If you could invent a gadget, what would it be? A third hand to mould the fiddly bits when soldering.

What one thing would you change about the Army? To stop using trendy, made-up words, like ‘missional’ or ‘journaling’. They bring out the Victor Meldrew in me! What is your favourite food? Bangers and mash with onion gravy.

What do you do in your spare time? Build model trains.

What is your favourite kind of holiday? A caravan beside the sea. I can’t be bothered with the palaver of going abroad.

If you could be in a film, which would it be and what character would you play? The Harry Potter film series. I’d be Professor Severus Snape, a much misunderstood character.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose? Denis Thatcher. I’d like to know what it was like being married to Margaret. If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be? The 1950s Teddy Boy fashion: drape jackets and creepers.

What was the first record, tape or CD that you ever owned? Chinese Laundry Blues by George Formby (1932). We used to play it incessantly on the family gramophone.

What is your favourite Bible verse? Nothing ‘will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:39). The old favourite does it for me every time. Which book would you want on a desert island? My complete set of model railway journals (272 and counting) would keep me happy in the evenings.

If you had a ‘theme song’ that played whenever you walked into a room, what would it be? ‘You Are My Sunshine’ by Johnny Cash.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? My training officer at the International Training College told me I’d never last five minutes as an officer. It gave me a lifelong incentive to prove him wrong. With God’s grace, watch!