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Tributes paid to popular vicar
TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known and respected vicar who lived in Seaford.
John Lloyd-James, known as Father John, passed away at the beginning of this month following a battle with cancer.
Despite his illness he continued to take services until 12 days before his death on May 1.
Father John, whose last role was as vicar at St Andrew's Church in Bishopstone, became interested in the church through his father's career.
The 70-year-old, who was born John Eifion Lloyd-James in Bethlehem Manse Spittal in Pembrokeshire, moved to Swansea as a toddler, where his father became a minister of a chapel and his mother, Megan, took a teaching post in the local grammar school.
The family moved to Newhaven when John was 11 years old, due to his brother Alun's health.
As a teenager, John, who was described by a friend as a 'lovely man', became an apprentice at what used to be Caffyns in Seaford to learn about the motor trade. During this period he met Ann and the couple later married in Denton in 1963.
Ann said, "He was priest at Bishopstone for five years. He did very well and built the congregation up. He just loved people and was a people person, that's why he was so popular."
The 68-year-old said she was overwhelmed after receiving more than 400 cards since his passing and she thanked everyone for their kind thoughts.
After Ann and John got married, they had a son called Duncan, and lived in Bristol for two years while John finished his course in theology.
During his time with the church, which spanned more than 35 years, he served in many Sussex parishes and also appeared with his family on the programme The Parish. Ann said that one letter describing John as 'a wonderful and loving man' summed him up perfectly and she added, "He would always speak to everyone in the street and was the sort of person that lit up a room when they walked into it."
Father John, who had a knack for remembering the names and faces of the many people he met during his life, had been chaplain to a series of organisations during his parochial ministry, including the Royal British Legion and the Burma Star Association.
He also took a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group of 20 people while vicar at St Mary the Virgin in Billingshurst.
Father John was made Prebend of Selsey in 2000, an honour of which he was particularly proud, and on his retirement in 2004 the bishop conferred the title of Canon Emeritus to him.
During his retirement, Father John spent much of his spare time enjoying gardening and going for walks.
Councillor Rosemary Collict said, "I knew him very well. He was a lovely man and I was very fond of him.
"He was always very generous and would help and do anything for anybody. I was heartbroken to learn of his death. His loss will be greatly felt by the people in the town."
A service attended by 150 friends and family took place at St Andrew's Church in Bishopstone on May 13.
It was conducted by the Rev Brian Cook and the Rev Dr Martin Yould.
The following day, at St Mary's Church in Brighton, requiem was celebrated by the Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Rev John Hind.
The service was attended by more than 500 people and was followed by Father John's burial at St Andrew's churchyard in Bishopstone.
• Do you have happy memories of Father John? You are welcome to leave your tributes in the comment section below.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
