Alan Jeans MBE

Bishop Nicholas was quick to congratulate Alan, a long-serving Archdeacon and Army Padre known for his dedication to young people and mission, saying:

"Congratulations to Archdeacon Alan Jeans on his being awarded an MBE for his outstanding work with the Army Cadets."

Training Officer Peter White was also quick to pay tribute on Twitter, saying:

"So happy to hear the news that our amazing Padre, Alan Jeans has been honoured with an MBE. I can think of no other person who deserves this more. Alan we are so very grateful for everything you do for @WiltsACF."

The Army Cadet Force added:

"May I offer my congratulations and that of every member of the Army Cadet Force to the following on their richly deserved honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021 - Padre A Jeans MBE Major K Pickering MBE Major N Macleod MBE Captain W Husband MBE SMI P Morris BEM."

Alan has supported the Army Cadet Force chaplaincy since 2002, and has developed and pioneered the role of the Padre in that time. Alongside the two-week annual residential camp, Alan supports the Wiltshire Army Cadet Force throughout the year, visiting detachments across the County, and being available to teach values and standards; pastoral care of the cadets and adult volunteers; and commemoration events.

With Revd Jo Reid and cadets

When the Army Cadet Force looked towards marking significant National Commemorations, Alan was the lead chaplain in overseas tours in 2018 at the Centenary Anniversary of the Armistice, taking over 3000 cadets to the battlefields and war cemeteries in Flanders; and again in 2019, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, leading the Commemoration services at Arromanches in Normandy. There are plans to mark The Falklands’ Liberation in 2022.

Alan also compiled The Cadet Prayer Book. This publication draws together resources to help cadets in Air Training Corps, Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps and the Combined Cadet Force, with those challenging years that all teenagers have to traverse. Prayers, readings, and inspiring quotations offer the cadets hope as they look to the future.

As a member of the Royal Army Chaplains Department, he has supported the Regular Army chaplains in a number of ways: as Denominational Confidante; mentoring and assisting chaplains returning to parish ministry; and as a Trustee of The Royal Army Chaplains Museum.

Alan says:

"It is a great honour to be chosen from amongst the Army Cadet Force Chaplains to receive this recognition for services given to Wiltshire Army Cadets and their Adult Volunteer Instructors. In my thirty-plus years as a priest, my work with young people has always been a high priority.

"The Army Cadet Force supports young people as they prepare for the challenges that life brings us all. The cadets are taught the values and standards that provide a solid framework for building relationships.

"Seeing thousands of cadets develop confidence to make their way into adulthood and a secure future is very satisfying. Being their Padre for the past 19 years has been a wonderful privilege."