Name Simon Beveridge | ||
The Revd. Simon Beveridge is an Anglican Royal Navy Chaplain notable for being one of the handful of Commando Trained chaplains. He has also competed in amateur racing, thus earning the nickname "The Galloping Padre".
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Career
Beveridge, an Anglo-Catholic, was the vicar of Marydown until 1993, when he joined the Royal Navy, passing his commando course in the same year. He subsequently served with 42 Commando Royal Marines and served on operations in Sierra Leone.
Beveridge is also known as the "Galloping Padre" since he learned to ride (at Mr Frost's Yard at Buckfastleigh) whilst serving with the Royal Marines at CTCRM Lympstone in 2004. While serving in HMS Bulwark in 2005 he took the Amateur National Hunt Jockey's course at the British Racing School in Newmarket and gained his Category 'A' racing licence. In December 2007 he became the first priest to win a point-to-point with a 50-1 victory at Wadebridge. In 2008, aged 46, and whilst chaplain at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, he represented the Navy at the Grand Military Cup and became the first Navy chaplain to ride at Sandown, though he unfortunately fell on the last circuit after being intercepted by a riderless horse.
He was an early advocate of the Royal Navy/Royal Marines Trauma Risk Management project (TRIM) and used the technique when, as chaplain to Commando Helicopter Force, a helicopter crashed on the flight deck of RFA Argus, injuring three men, one very gravely.
Personal life
Beveridge and his wife Sarah have two children and reside in Devon.