A special church service is to be held to pay tribute to a long standing soldier in Swanage’s Salvation Army, who has just retired after 22 years of selling his church’s weekly paper.
Graham Warburton is a well known character in Swanage, who has sold the War Cry and Kids Alive outside Corbens estate agents in Station Road every Thursday and Friday for many years, dressed in full Salvation Army uniform.
Graham Warburton is settling into full retirement in his Swanage home
Six mile delivery rounds
Before that, though the Covid years, he took on six mile delivery rounds through Swanage and Wareham, to sell the papers, becoming a much loved figure that families would look out for.
After making his final sales on Friday, 19th December 2025, Graham retired and will now have his exceptional volunteer work recognised at a church service of thanks to be held at Swanage Methodist Church, High Street, on Sunday 25th January 2026 at 10.30 am.
There is an open invitation to Swanage and Wareham residents to attend the service, which will officially thank Graham for all the time he has given to both the Salvation Army Church and the Purbeck community over the past decades.
Swanage town mayor Mike Bonfield dropped by to see Graham on his last day outside Corbens in Station Road
Working in the town’s cemeteries
Graham, who first visited Swanage on holiday with a cousin in the 1960s, met his future wife Margaret at the town’s Salvation Army citadel in High Street, and they married there in 1972, later adopting a son, Colin, and a daughter, Sarah.
Almost all of their married life was spent in Swanage and the local Salvation Army was always a major influence in their life.
Margaret became the church’s timbrel leader and corps treasurer, also leading the Friendship Club and raising money for the Helping Hand appeal before her death in February 2024.
Graham was employed locally for many years at Hamworthy Engineering and later for a decade for Swanage Town Council, working in the town’s cemeteries.
When Graham retired he decided to volunteer by supporting the work of the Salvation Army in the community, distributing its weekly paper in Swanage and Wareham for 22 years, building a loyal customer base and becoming a well known figure until his retirement in December.
Graham and his late wife Margaret on their wedding day in 1972
“It has been a big part of my life”
Graham Warburton said:
“I was brought up with the Salvation Army and it has been a big part of my life for all of my life. I was a Herald for many years – that’s what they call people who sell the War Cry newspaper for the Church.
“Many years ago I used to take the Army papers around the pubs in my home corps of Bolton, and when I was asked whether I would like to be a Herald here in Swanage I agreed and ended up doing it in Wareham as well.
“We were without an officer for a few years and so I stepped in to sell the War Cry here, and ended up doing it for 22 years. I enjoyed raising funds for our corps, more importantly it was a great opportunity to meet people in the community, have conversations with them and build relationships.
“I never approached people, they came to me which I always felt was important. I’ve enjoyed representing the Salvation Army and being available to people for a chat, especially when people shared something of their life story with me.
“During lockdown, I delivered the paper to all of the Corps members as well as regular customers I met here in town, and each delivery round was a six mile walk.”
The Salvation Army church building in High Street, Swanage, was put up for sale in 2025
“It was the right time to retire”
Graham added:
“I sold outside Corbens for years and did my last day just before Christmas – it was the right time to retire, it was getting a bit too much for me, though I shall miss being out there every Thursday and Friday.
“I’m not sure what I will do with my retirement, but I will continue to go to Boscombe most weeks to pray at the Salvation Army church there.
“It was a real shame to lose the Swanage church in High Street. I used to keep the church clean over the years and it is a beautiful old building.
“I don’t know what they are going to do with it – I think it would be nice to use it as an art gallery or a dance hall, so that people could still use the building.”
The meeting hall of the Salvation Army church building – would it make a perfect gallery or dance hall?
Further information
- More about the Salvation Army Church
