Who's who

Vicar - Fr. Tommy Merry

Fr Tommy became Vicar of the Parish of St Paul's in May 2025.

Tommy was born in Lincoln and lived there until going off to university in Norwich and originally worked in Catering and Hotel Management.  He also spent some time teaching in Hong Kong.

Tommy was brought up in a church family and has a variety of church experiences across different traditions. But it was during a trip to Taizé that initiated the process of exploring a vocation to the priesthood, eventually taking him to the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield to train, including placements in Southern Africa.

He was ordained Deacon at Lichfield Cathedral in 2013 and Priested in 2014. His curacy was in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, before a post as Vicar of Fenton and then Vicar of Basford and Wolstanton.

Tommy is very passionate about his work with young people and children and has extensive experience within schools and governance.  He was also part of setting up and being the chaplain to a Homelessness charity.

Tommy has travelled widely and especially enjoys his return visits to South Africa.

Tommy continues to love food – cooking, eating and drinking.  He loves the theatre, films, British classic comedy, reading Autobiographies, and has an interest in fashion.

Tommy looks forward to working with everyone at St Pauls in the years ahead.

Honorary Assistant Priest - Mthr Ann Clarridge

I have not travelled very far being born and brought up in Greenford and now living in Ickenham.  I attended Holy Cross Church from the age of eight and apart from a brief spell attending Greenford Gospel Hall as a teenager, I have been a member of and attended, the Church of England.

On leaving school, I qualified as a Nurse and became a District Nurse working for Ealing Health Authority and then moved into teaching Nursing at London Southbank University.

I was Ordained in 2004 and since then served my Title at St Michael and St George, White City and three subsequent posts as Assistant Curate at St Augustine: Whitton, Holy Trinity: Northwood and St Laurence: Cowley.  

I am currently an Honorary Assistant Priest at St. Paul's Ruislip Manor and have received Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of London whenever requested to do so by the Incumbent or Minister of any Parish or District.

I am married to Roy and we have three sons and four grandchildren plus a step grandson and one fostered granddaughter and her three children, making us great grandparents!

Hobbies: time spent with the family; not really a hobby more a delight and a joy, time spent in the garden; again not really a hobby more a time of delight and a joy.  Roy is very into Athletics – a onetime cross country coach and we both enjoy a level of fitness relative to our age.  I trained as a Spiritual guide which means accompanying people on their spiritual journey of faith and belong to a number of Sacred dance groups – these also bring me delight and joy.

Honorary Assistant Priest - Fr Derek West
I was born in Hayes, Middlesex, not more than ten miles away from where I live now in Ickenham. Local primary schools were followed by the 11+ and going to Southall Grammar School. In my pre-teen years I joined a local scout group attached to St Mary's church in Hayes, where I met Fr Gorbold, who had previously been parish priest here at St Paul's. He was a saintly man blessed with the gift of discernment and he suggested to me that I should consider testing my vocation for the priesthood. Despite my initial disinclination, he persisted and to my surprise I was accepted for further training. 

After a degree in theology at Hull University and two years in Cambridge at Westcott House. I was made deacon in 1973 and ordained priest in 1974. I served two curacies in East London and then went to Slough, where I served 32 years in several different roles. 

I retired in 2012 and came back to my home county of Middlesex. Receiving a PTO (permission to officiate), I am now an Honorary Assistant Priest at St Paul's. I am married to Eileen and we have 6 children and eight grandchildren. 

Among my many interests, I study churches – their history and architecture, I collect stamps and I follow QPR (though mainly as an armchair supporter these days)

Churchwarden - Nicky Fantham

Having spent my childhood in Hertfordshire, I moved to Ruislip in 1981 when I married Paul.  After raising our 3 children, I joined a local school as Exams Officer where I remained until 2021 when I retired. This coincided with me leaving St. Mary’s and coming to St. Paul’s as I felt that I needed to restore my faith. From the first Sunday I walked into this church I felt welcomed and at home.

Over many years I have been involved in girlguiding and now enjoy spending time with our extended family of 5 grandchildren and also singing in a local a cappella group.

 I look forward to supporting both the clergy and people of the parish.