Globe trotting couple lead North Norfolk church

2009: The Salvation Army in Sheringham will soon be under the leadership of Majors Ian and Isobel Robinson who have over 30 years' ministerial experience across the world.

 

The Scottish-born couple have led Salvation Army churches in California and Singapore and also managed a nursing home in Singapore. Major Ian has also served as a national leader for The Salvation Army across Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

 

The Robinsons succeed Majors Adrian & Beth Maddern, who have been leaders in Sheringham since May 2003.

 

Major Ian, 60, was born in Govan and raised in Ayr, where Major Isobel, 53, was born and raised and where the pair met. They married in Ayr in 1976, moved to Camberley in Surrey a year later and then moved to Southern California in 1982.

 

Prior to training for Christian ministry and becoming Salvation Army ministers, Major Ian worked in the airline business in airports in Glasgow, Heathrow and Los Angeles, and Major Isobel, 53, was a registered nurse. 

There is a strong family theme in the Robinsons’ return to the UK and particularly to Sheringham. After 27 years ministering overseas Major Ian explains why they wished to return to the UK, “We requested a UK appointment so we could spend some time closer to family who live in Ayr, Belfast and Leeds. In fact, one of the former leaders of my church in Ayr, Malcolm High, actually came from Sheringham! The date we become Sheringham Salvation Army’s leaders happens to be my father's 88th birthday!”

The husband of one of the Majors’ two daughters is a graduate of the University of East Anglia in Norwich and the couple expect to see plenty of their younger children - a daughter, who is studying at London School of Theology and a son who is a waiter living in Orange, California. The Robinsons have one grandchild.

 

The Robinsons have received high praise from their predecessors. Major Adrian Maddern has led Sheringham Salvation Army along with his wife Major Beth since May 2003. Before leaving to take charge of The Salvation Army’s church in Peterborough, Major Adrian said: “Major Ian and Isobel are godly people with a great amount of gifts. We know that they will do very well in Sheringham, which is a lovely place to live and where the people are warm and friendly.”