BIOGRAPHY

Sport has always been part of Dave Chawner's life, having been brought up as a Nottingham Forest supporter. The City Ground and Trent Bridge were his 2 sporting homes as a teenager. But as well as watching, he enjoyed playing; though makes no claim to any significant level of achievement.

"Any opportunity to play - especially team sport - whether on the park, at school or in serious competition, and I would be there. At Primary School it was football & cricket, and the same at church through the Boy's Brigade."

But it was at Forest Fields Grammar School that he was introduced to Rugby Union. "I played for school right through the age ranges, and even managed an odd - probably very odd - appearance in the first XV. "

It was whilst studying Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh that Dave reached his highest point - or was it a nadir - of sporting success.

"I went to net practice with a friend and somehow was selected for Edinburgh University 3rd XI. 1966 was a wet summer, and we never started a game. One Saturday the Second XI had all gone home assuming their game was off, when it was decided to play. Anyone around was drafted in, and as a result I had the honour of making the second highest score (7) in that team's lowest ever total - I think it was 17. That showed it was time to retire"

No one will ever know whether that was a critical factor in his search for God, but after 7 years in veterinary practice Dave felt called to Baptist Ministry. In 1981 he became minister of Haven Green Baptist Church in Ealing, West London, and in 2000 also took on the role of chaplain to London Wasps, who had approached SCORE for a chaplain.

"What started as a local club chaplaincy soon expanded into a wider ministry within SCORE developing chaplaincy within Rugby Union. As this grew it became apparent that it required more time. So in February 2007 I left the local pastorate to become full time Coordinator for Rugby Union Chaplaincy in the UK."

The rest as they say is history & you can read about it elsewhere on the website.

Dave & Lillias celebrate 40 years of marriage in 2009 and have a son and a daughter.