Two key volunteers behind the Christian Magdalene Project, which aims to help Norwich prostitutes, are stepping down.

 

Ivan Bailey, former chairman, and Maureen Fitzgerald, former secretary, have retired from the King Street-based organisation which was first formed in 1994.

Ivan (pictured right) has been replaced as chairman by Peter Fox, a clergyman who spent many years in Papua New Guinea helping sex workers and people with Aids, who has pledged to continue the good work of his retiring colleagues.

Mr Fox said: “I was a Bishop in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and a lot of that time I was involved in working with people with HIV and Aids. We tried to raise awareness because the situation out there was becoming a crisis. We worked a lot with prostitutes but also with faithful wives of promiscuous husbands who had contracted the disease.

“I moved back to England in July 2006 and came along to an annual general meeting of the Magdalene Group, and I wanted to see whether there was any way I could help them, as they do a fantastic job. They invited me to be a trustee, but to be made chairman was a complete surprise - I feel it is an enormous privilege and I will do my very best.”

Mr Fox replaces chairman Ivan Bailey, 75, who became involved with the project when it was set up after filming a documentary with Anglia Television about the work of the Salvation Army in the red light district of Amsterdam.

Maureen Fitzgerald, the group's secretary, is also retiring after several years of involvement with the project.

The Magdalene project provides a drop-in centre in King Street, a support programme, educational courses and outreach work, and helps sex workers to find ways out of the sex industry. Contact them on 01603 610256.