User:MEPK/John aldwyn pelham kent

John Aldwyn Pelham Kent studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and worked as a chemist for the British Aluminium Company in Kinlochleven until the outbreak of World War II. He then trained for the ministry in the Church of England, enlisting as chaplain to the 2nd SAS Regiment in 1942. After the end of the war he served as chaplain to Cyril Garbutt, Archbishop of York, and then as Vicar of Selby until his retirement in 1978. He died of a brain tumour in 1991"

Early life John Kent was born in South Africa, then a British Colony, on 23rd February 1914. His father was Captain, later Commander, Arthur Clifton Pelham Kent OBE and his mother was Mabel Ventry. He was sent to England at the age of six to attend preparatory school. He then attended Marlborough College. He failed to take his school higher exams due to appendicitis, meaning that he had to wait a year to take them. His family sent him to Germany to learn German. That was in 1933, the time of the rise to power of the Nazi Party.

University On successfully completing his school higher certificates he entered Trinity Hall college in Cambridge University to study Natural Sciences, being principally Chemistry. While there he became a devout Christian and on completing his degree asked his father to fund him to study for the Anglican ministry. His father refused, having funded him through university, but agreed to fund his training later if he worked for some time as a chemist.

Industrial experience Kent was employed as a chemist by the British Aluminium Company at the hydroelectric smelting plant in Kinlochleven in the Scottish Highlands from 1936 to 1939. During this time he was a Scout Master and developed an enduring love of the Highlands. At the outbreak of World War Two he resigned from the British Aluminium Company as the company's products would obviously be used in the manufacture of armaments, which as a Christian and pacifist he could not support. He trained for the Anglican Ministry at Westcott House.

War Service On completion of his training as a minister he joined the British Army as a Chaplain, becoming Chaplain to the Second SAS Regiment.