Revd. Max Drinkwater – Trustee

Career Profile

I am the rector of Haverhill and Withersfield, where I work with the churches and various community groups in and around the local area. Previously, I was an associate rector in Newmarket and Exning, so I have lived and worked in West Suffolk since 2016.

I trained for ministry at Westcott House in Cambridge, and also have experience working for churches in North London. I have been a volunteer chaplain at St Nicholas for most of my time in Suffolk.

Why did you become a St Nicholas Hospice Care Trustee?

Through my work in local communities, I have seen the value of the work that St Nicholas Hospice Care does, not only in caring for those with life-limiting illnesses but also in supporting carers, helping the bereaved, raising awareness of issues around end-of-life care and death, providing opportunities for volunteers, remembering those we have lost, and bringing the community together.

I accepted the invitation to become a trustee because I recognise the importance of pastoral, social and spiritual care as part of our holistic care for those who benefit from our services, whatever their faith or cultural background.

I think it is important for this aspect of our care to be represented in the governance of the charity, and I am pleased to share in all the duties of the board of trustees while bringing particular expertise in pastoral care and spirituality.

I was particularly pleased to have been appointed in 2024, in the midst of our celebrations of 40 years of care in the community, and to share in the legacy of Canon Norburn, whose vision and commitment to caring for those at the end of their life with dignity, were the foundation of all that we are able to do today.