Deacon Dave Turner RIP

Deacon Dave was ordained to the Diaconate on July 9th 2011 by Bishop Kieran Conry.  His ministry has subsequently lead mainly on the ‘on-call’ Catholic Hospital Chaplaincy were he is also an NHS Bank Chaplain for the PRH. Dave’s year group studied part-time for three years at Wonersh. They were the first group to undertake the foundation degree course in Pastoral Ministry and graduated with merit at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Just prior to ordination he took early retirement from an engineering career with BT spanning close to 42 years, beginning in 1969 when it was the GPO shortly before becoming the Post Office Corporation (Telecommunications Division). Dave achieved his City & Guilds Full Technological Certificate. 

HCPT has featured large in Deacon Dave’s life since the early 70s which began by volunteering at Leyden House which was another charity formed by Dr (Br) Michael Strode. It was through this that he met his lovely wife Barbara. They will be celebrating 40 years of marriage which has produced two wonderful daughters who mercifully take after their mother.

Fr Raglan writes: 

Everyone will now be telling me of the ways Deacon Dave touched their lives going back over the years. Taking groups to Lourdes, ministering as on-call Chaplain at thePrincess Royal hospital, visiting those who were ill at home or in care homes, planning parish programmes with the other clergy and staff, ecumenical occasions with other churches, involvement with St. Joseph’s primary and St. Paul’s Catholic College, on Sundays reflecting with young people over the Gospel at Mass, helping out with his own skills in communications technology, preaching at Mass and taking part in prayer groups, cantoring in the parish and for the Diocese, the happy occasions of baptisms, first communions, confirmations and weddings, the sad but crucial days of funerals, or simply being there at parish social events are just a few I know of.

Even more than what a person does, we remember their unique personality. He was so welcoming to me, as he was to countless others, when I was preparing to come to Haywards Heath nearly four years ago. 

He was always positive and funny whilst at the same time being serious and caring about things that matter. If that is some idea of the gap he leaves in our lives, I am thinking of how much it means for Barb, Clare and Jo at this time.