When it comes to swimming against the tide, Rev Mark Zammit is your man.
He’s set to take up his new post in Huddersfield early next year - and has vowed to continue his exciting hobby.
For Mr Zammit is a keen scuba diver and loves nothing more than getting into his wetsuit and exploring the deep.
Mr Zammit is set to become the next Rector of the team parish of Almondbury with Farnley Tyas, replacing Dennis Handley who moved from Almondbury to Northumberland earlier this year.
He will leave his post as rector of the Avon River team and rural dean of Stonehenge in February prior to being licensed on March 5.
Mark grew up in Southampton, and for 13 years was a milk-roundsman – delivering milk on the eastern side of the city.
He studied theology at Salisbury and Wells Theological College in Salisbury Cathedral Close, and then, after being ordained in 1994, served his title back in Southampton in the parish of Bitterne Park.
He has served in parishes in Dorset but his most recent position is in the Deanery of Stonehenge, where he became rural dean in 2010.
Mark says the huge amount of traffic on the A303 near the historic monument is am issue.
“It can be a real nuisance to those who live nearby” he said, but added that he can get away from it all, mainly on holiday, when he slips into his diving gear and heads beneath the waves.
As well as scuba diving he also likes to relax by baking bread and gardening.
Having been married to Amanda since 1980 the couple who have two children are looking forward to moving closer to their daughter who lives in Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham, with her husband and son.
Mark added: “As a family we are looking forward to being closer together, and I am looking forward to being a parish priest in the new formed diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.
“The people we have met so far in Almondbury and Farnley Tyas have given us a very warm welcome and been helpful as we anticipate the move in February.”
