Rev Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell, FRGS

“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”

― Omar Khayyám

In summary, Rev. Lloyd Hobbard-Mitchell’s deep commitment to his religious vocation, his diverse experiences as an English teacher, artist, entrepreneur, and traveller, as well as his extensive work in the voluntary sector, focusing on homelessness and social welfare, all define the man he is.

I am an Englishman living in Thailand, on and off, since 2012. My wife, Susi, is Thai, and we have a son called Sebastian.

I embarked on my journey towards the priesthood in 2020 (having talked about it for 20 years to anyone who would listen). On May 28, 2023, I was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood during the Feast of Pentecost.  Before that, on June 5, 2022, I was admitted to the Deaconate, marking significant milestones in my religious path.

Although I am a volunteer ordained Anglican priest at St George’s – Pattaya, I teach English for a living. I continue to study online with Sarum College, a course on Theology, Ministry and Mission validated by Common Awards at the University of Durham.

Aside from my religious pursuits, I have engaged in various endeavours. I worked as an online English teacher to support my family after the birth of our son in 2017. Additionally, between 2012 and 2016, I pursued a passion for art, selling paintings and sculptures in the UK. Since 2012, my wife and I have operated a family-oriented tour desk business within international-brand hotels, providing wholesome experiences until the COVID-19 pandemic affected the industry.  Since April 2023, we have revived the business serving two hotels in Pattaya.

My travels have taken me across Asia, including a memorable journey on the Trans Mongolia Express, exploring diverse cities, including Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Osaka, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and New Delhi.

Before my travels, I dedicated a year to becoming a Dive Master on the Atlantic island of Lanzarote; A year I forever hold precious for its restorative powers.

My 15 years of work in the voluntary sector show my dedication to social welfare. From 1993 to 2002, I contributed to St Mungo’s, an organization focused on addressing homelessness in London. Following that, I joined Canterbury Open Center, which services I  expanded to The Scrine Foundation (now known as Catching Lives) from 2002 to 2009 in Canterbury, supporting needy individuals and advocating for long-term solutions related to housing, health, education, and employment.

My commitment to the community extended to where I lived, wherein in 2008, I was elected to sit on the Faversham Town Council until 2010. I focused on Youth Engagement, Anti Social Behaviour and Social Enterprise.

I continue to maintain a keen interest in current affairs and write the odd blog post whenever I find the time, which I share on my Facebook page: The World As I See It.

I am also an amateur futurist, intrigued by how Robotics and AI, as well as other emerging and developing technologies, are already and will continue to impact society.

My enthusiasm for exploring new places and meeting people from different cultures led me to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London in 1997. These experiences have shaped my worldview and enriched my interactions with others.

In summary, my deep commitment to my religious calling, diverse experiences as an English teacher, artist, entrepreneur, and traveller, as well as my extensive work in the voluntary sector, focusing on homelessness and social welfare, all define the man I am.