'Space vicar' marks 25 years

3:23pm Thursday 20th November 2008

A VICAR with some rather special friends in high places is about to celebrate a quarter of a century at his church.

The Rev Ken Clapham, from St. Cuthbert’s in Over Kellet, will have been in the north Lancashire village for 25 years on Sunday, November 30, and has invited the whole community to a special anniversary service to celebrate.

Mr Clapham, 60, is well known in the area for his links with NASA and during his time at the church has enjoyed visits from world-famous astronauts – eighth man on the moon James Irwin and tenth lunar explorer Charlie Duke. He is in constant email contact with NASA and uses his knowledge of space to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance, by giving talks at schools and village halls.