My Legion Life: Canon Peter Bruinvels

Canon Peter Bruinvels, County Manager for Surrey, shares his day-to-day life with the Legion

From Legion Summer 2009

How would you describe yourself?
Active 24/7, talkative and friendly.

What’s the best thing about being a County Manager?
No two days are the same – there is always a new challenge and more people to meet and help. Every person has their own story, and their thank-you letters make it all worthwhile.

What’s the hardest part of the job?
Turning deserving people down for help on the grounds of ineligibility, and making people wait because the local authorities have their own priorities and sometimes lack a sense of urgency. Our clients need help today, not next year.

What’s your biggest challenge?
To build on the Surrey Poppy Appeal total every year. We raised £910,000 last year and are tantalisingly close to that amount this year.

What have been your biggest successes?
One was getting 21 veterans presented to HM The Queen at the Royal Maundy Service in Guildford Cathedral. Another was seeing the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Poppy Competition take off. Forty-seven units entered in 2008 and raised £61,159. And I arranged for HRH The Duke of Gloucester to open Camberley NLC.
 
What’s been the funniest moment?
There was an elderly widow who wanted me to bring my .303 rifle up into her loft and shoot three grey squirrels, and an 80-year-old client who wanted me to arrange a welfare break for him and his 50-year-old girlfriend. He told me ‘to make it quick’ and to book a double bed!

What are your top tips for managers?
Keep a day book; listen carefully; let the client have the last word; remember the media needs you as much as you need them; and stay positive and cheerful!