Dorset Police news site

Tributes have been paid to a much-loved and respected reverend and chaplain, who has sadly died.

Reverend Phil Ringer died overnight on Saturday 21 March 2026 aged 78 following a period of illness.

He was well known for his work in ministry with the Lyme Bay, Beaminster and Bridport area teams, alongside his role as Bridport Hospital Chaplain and Divisional Police Chaplain for Dorset Police.

He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather to his wife Christine, his son Paul, daughter-in-law Mel and grandchildren Molly and Alex.

Prior to being ordained in 1991, Reverend Ringer had a long and fulfilling career with the Metropolitan Police Service. He joined the Met in 1966 as a special constable before becoming a regular police officer on 12 June 1967. He progressed through the ranks and retired as a chief inspector in 1995 after 28 years’ service.

During his exceptional policing career with the Met, some of Phil’s career highlights included:

• Being on the sidelines of the 1966 World cup final as a special constable.
• Acting as a staff officer to the gold commander for several major events, preparing him well for his work in the operations branch organising the police response to major incidents in London throughout his career.
• Being involved in the policing of the Royal wedding of Charles and Diana, the miners’ strikes, the visit of Pope John Paul II to London in 1982, the policing of the Live Aid Concert in 1985 and Notting Hill carnivals.
• As a senior student at clergy summer school, he and the other students supported police dive team officers coming to terms with the trauma they had experienced while responding to the Marchioness Disaster on the Thames in 1989, which led to the death of 51 people.

Once he retired from policing Reverend Ringer entered full time parish ministry, initially based at Lynton & Lynmouth before retiring to Bridport with his wife in 2008 to continue his work here.

In 2009, Reverend Ringer started the Blue Light Carol Service to provide an opportunity for emergency service personnel to gather before the busy Christmas period. This annual event raises funds for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and his services were fondly known for its Christmas message and its unique rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell, of Dorset Police, said: “Reverend Phil Ringer was our longest serving chaplain and was hugely loved and respected by officers, staff and volunteers. Policing was very close to his heart and his record of service both within the Metropolitan Police Service and here in Dorset speaks for itself.

“He was very much loved by all who knew and met him, and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.”