VICAR of Boyatt Wood in Eastleigh for the past eight years, Rev Peter Gilks is set to switch parishes in the summer.

He will become the vicar of Chilworth and North Baddesley, with an institution service planned for July 10.

Formerly rector of Abbotts Ann and Upper and Goodworth Clatford, Mr Gilks, 55, came to St Peter's, Boyatt Wood, in 1998.

Based on a major housing development dating from the 1970s, Boyatt Wood only became a parish in the 1980s. St Peter's Church was opened in 1991.

Mr Gilks said he had enjoyed his time in the parish enormously. He had had close links with local schools and has been chairman of governors at Shakespeare Junior School. The church also developed close ties with Scouts, Guides and Brownies and, at the other end of the age range, sheltered housing schemes like Leslie Loader Court and Reginald Mitchell Court.

Mr Gilks did a BMus degree at Nottingham University, graduating in 1972. He said: "I am involved quite a lot with work as an piano accompanist and play for exams, recitals and choral rehearsals."

After leaving university, he qualified and worked as a nurse at a hospital in Taunton for a number of years before training for holy orders at Ripon College, Cuddesdon.

He was curate at Bitterne Park in Southampton between 1984-7 and team vicar at Basingstoke from 1987-93.

He and his wife, Jackie, have two daughters, Katie, 19, and Lizzie, 17.

His new parishes are much longer-established than Boyatt Wood. St Denys Church, Chilworth, dating from 1812, had just been beautifully redecorated and refurbished, Mr Gilks said.