A LONG serving chaplain who is to retire after nearly three decades at the Royal Bolton Hospital says he still feels emotional when assisting people at tragic moments in their life.

Rev Neil Gray joined the hospital in 1987 as its first full-time chaplain, and has seen the role change vastly since he first arrived.

He said: "When I was training for the priesthood we went out on placements, and I went out to a hospital, which I liked. It was good to be able to help people who were in difficulty, one way or another.

"It has changed a lot since I first started. I covered five hospitals at first which have all been subsumed into the current site.

"When I first came here I asked where my office was, and they said 'Why do you need an office?'.

"A lot of it used to just be walking around saying nice things to people in beds, but it has changed a lot now."

Rev Gray, aged 67, who lives in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, now works alongside a team of 11 paid staff, all of whom come in one morning or afternoon every week, as well as 13 volunteers.

Under his leadership, the chaplaincy has developed and become well respected as it continues to provide spiritual and religious support to staff, patients and families.

It caters for people of differing faiths, with a chapel, a mosque and a temple as well as three prayer rooms being available for those at the hospital.

Rev Gray says his regular day-to-day tasks included attending when someone has died and offering support to those who have been given bad news in addition to his administrative tasks in overseeing the chaplaincy.

Despite his many years being exposed to such tragedy, Rev Gray says he still gets emotional when encountering it.

He said: "If you don't feel sad and you don't feel for the people you are helping, you night as well give up."

Rev Gray says working with a range of people proved the highlight of his near three decade tenure.

He added: "All the people who have come to join the team have been brilliant, each in their own way."

Retirement will allow Rev Gray to follow his varied passions, including making tapestries, having archery lessons, painting and meditation, which he has engaged in since he was a child.

He said: "I enjoy cooking, as well as painting oils, so retirement will give me much more time to pursue these activities."