Mother Valerie Aitken

I was born and brought up in the borough of Ealing, attending Notting Hill & Ealing High School until I was 18. I then did a bi-lingual course at the Institut Français in London and worked as an interpreter/PA. I married Stephen in 1967. We moved back to Ealing in 1977 with our 2 daughters. I had twin boys in 1980.

I began training for the priesthood in 2001 at STETS, a theological college in Salisbury. After ordination in 2004 I served my curacy at St Mary with St Nicholas in Perivale, London. I remained there as Assistant Priest until taking over as vicar in 2014. I retired in 2017 and am now an Associate Priest here at St Barnabas Church.

During this time, I have also worked in Conflict Resolution, Bereavement and Pastoral Care training and also spent 3 years as a prison chaplain.