Steve was born in Wiltshire while his father was based at RAF Wroughton – his birth in the Air Force base hospital began a lifelong interest in flying! Steve studied Chemistry at York University and went on to gain a PhD at Southampton, during which time he made a commitment to the Lord. Upon completion of his studies, Steve took up a research post with ICI in Cheshire and met Philippa within a few months.
Philippa was born in Dorset and had a personal relationship with Jesus even as a young child. She studied Biochemistry at Oxford University, going on to work with ICI – initially as a research scientist but ultimately finding her niche in the training department.
Their first posting with MAF was to Tanzania in 1993: running the sub-base at Mbeya in the Southern Highlands, then moving to Dodoma for Steve to be Chief Pilot. Philippa has been MAF’s Training Advisor and now Consultant since1997; she is responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of all non-aviation training. Their daughters Jessica and Rebekah were born in 1995 and 1996.
Steve and Philippa moved to Uganda in 2003 where Steve is Programme Director. Due to rebel activity in the north, 11⁄2 million Ugandans have been displaced from their villages. They live in vast camps and the task of feeding them, maintaining sanitation and providing medical care is overwhelming. The unrest has made road transport so dangerous that anyone travelling to the region, or on into Sudan, has little option but to fly. MAF’s services are fully booked.
Both Steve and Philippa feel it is a challenge to support the MAF team as they work under constant pressure to meet the many demands. They share a passion for reaching people in geographically remote areas. In some isolated communities in Uganda, as many as 70% are infected with HIV/AIDS. There is limited medical care and people are dying without practical assistance and without knowledge of Jesus as their Saviour. It is time-consuming to site new airstrips to bring relief into these remote places, but we are committed to doing so.