Author: communications officer

By popular request we are commencing a Sunday evening Praise and Worship service at the Seafarers Centre on Felixstowe Dock. Everyone is welcome to attend. For further details ring 07519 043580

QVSR’s Chief Executive

Alexander Campbell OBE took over the helm of QVSR in June 2003 and over the last 22 years has led the development of a new vision and direction for the charity, championing the needs of both active and retired seafarers, veterans of the Armed Forces and other individuals who find themselves homeless.

The “Queen Vic” has had a strong reputation for serving those in need for over 180 years and Alexander has continued to develop this by being at the forefront of establishing imaginative new services aimed at reaching out to people and helping them to rebuild their lives and discover new opportunities. Under his watch the QVSR accommodation building in Poplar, in the East of London, has been completely transformed through an £8 million redevelopment programme with the aim to always put “Residents First”. 

Alexander has also been instrumental in re-establishing our maritime heritage. In 2022 the creation of a new subsidiary charitable company, “QVSR Seafarers Centres”, expanded QVSR’s port based welfare services beyond the Port of London, Tilbury and DP World London Gateway, to the London Cruise Terminal and the ports of Bristol, Felixstowe and Immingham. This expansion continues the work first set out by our founders in 1843 and aims to always put “Seafarers First”.

Alexander was born and educated in Scotland and studied at the University of Dundee where he gained a BA in Professional Studies and an MSc in Leadership and Organisational Development, he also holds a NVQ 4 and NVQ 5 in Strategic Management and is a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. In the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, he was awarded an OBE for his charity work which spans over three decades; most of which has been spent working with frontline homeless services and housing associations.

Driven by a passionate commitment to give new opportunities to vulnerable groups including homeless people, Alexander’s varied career has given him rich experience of working in the heart of excluded communities across the country, including London, Portsmouth, Leicester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Inverness. His desire is to help the marginalised find a route back into the heart of society.

Alexander lives in Essex with his wife Ruth and children, he enjoys travelling and music making through his passion for brass bands. Alexander is a Magistrate and a Trustee of Methodist Ministers Housing Society (MMHS).

In November 2014, Alexander was honoured to receive the Merchant Navy Medal for services to the care and welfare of retired merchant seafarers, Honoris Causa.