A REVEREND and former warden of Upton Country Park is playing his part in a major naval deployment to the Far East.

Eddie Wills, who used to live in Branksome, is the chaplain onboard HMS Albion.

The 23,000-tonne amphibious assault ship left Plymouth at the beginning of February tasked with strengthening the United Kingdom’s ties throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Rev Wills, who was ordained into the Church of England in 2010, has family connection to Poole. His grandfather was born in the town and served in the Artic Convoys during the Second World War.

He said: “After living and working in the Poole area I moved to the Somerset Levels where I soon found myself competing to be heard over the noise of the aircraft from the naval air station at Yeovilton.

“Perhaps inevitably, my religious calling and my naval interest combined and I decided to become a chaplain.”

Having joined the Royal Navy in 2014 and previously serving in the Middle East onboard the frigate HMS St Albans, Rev Wills joined HMS Albion at the beginning of last year.

His ‘flock’ ever since has consisted of more than 550 sailors, Royal Marines and officer cadets.

Joining HMS Albion at the beginning of 2017, his ‘flock’ consists of more than 550 sailors, Royal Marines and officer cadets.

“HMS Albion is a large enough ship to have a chapel and I hold regular church services at sea, but I have a much broader pastoral responsibility to support the Captain in matters of morale and welfare,” Rev Wills said.

“HMS Albion is the first Royal Navy warship to visit the Far East in several years, so this is an exciting once-in-a-career opportunity for many people onboard. Nevertheless, life at sea inevitably brings separation and uncertainty and my role is to be a friend and advisor to everyone onboard, of all faiths and of none”

In April, HMS Albion became the first Royal Navy warship to visit Indonesia in seven years. In Jakarta, Rev Wills led a group of sailors and Royal Marines to a local orphanage to learn more about life in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing cities.

Weeks later, Rev Wills accompanied 150 of HMS Albion’s Royal Marines ashore for a week-long training exercise in the jungles of Brunei, which is regarded as an ideal environment for honing Commando skills.

“One of my great heroes in life is the Victorian naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace who is buried in Broadstone and is famous for exploring the jungles of Borneo, so I was thrilled to be able to follow in his footsteps.

Rev Wills added: “In a funny way parts of the jungle reminded me of Upton Country Park and I felt entirely at home living among the trees.”