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| The Very Rev Richard Eyre obituary | |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| My dear friend Richard Eyre, who has died aged 83, was a churchman to his fingertips, but that stereotype gives only a two-dimensional sketch of a robustly three-dimensional man. All his natural instincts were Anglo-Catholic, and to the end he never failed to say the daily office, the bedrock of his spiritual life. | My dear friend Richard Eyre, who has died aged 83, was a churchman to his fingertips, but that stereotype gives only a two-dimensional sketch of a robustly three-dimensional man. All his natural instincts were Anglo-Catholic, and to the end he never failed to say the daily office, the bedrock of his spiritual life. |
| Richard was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, the third of three children of Montague, an officer in the Indian police, and his wife, Ethel. He was educated at Charterhouse, Surrey, and, after his national service, went to Oriel College and St Stephen's House, Oxford. | Richard was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, the third of three children of Montague, an officer in the Indian police, and his wife, Ethel. He was educated at Charterhouse, Surrey, and, after his national service, went to Oriel College and St Stephen's House, Oxford. |
| His marriage in 1963 to Anne, a good deal younger and more rebellious than him, was life-changing. He came to accept the ordination of women and gay partnerships, at first with reserve but then with enthusiasm, and as dean of Exeter (1981-95) he turned out to be a safe pair of hands, guiding a cathedral with many echoes of Barchester into the modern world. He had to navigate some stormy waters with the chapter, but was greatly admired in Devon for his campaign to engage the whole community. | His marriage in 1963 to Anne, a good deal younger and more rebellious than him, was life-changing. He came to accept the ordination of women and gay partnerships, at first with reserve but then with enthusiasm, and as dean of Exeter (1981-95) he turned out to be a safe pair of hands, guiding a cathedral with many echoes of Barchester into the modern world. He had to navigate some stormy waters with the chapter, but was greatly admired in Devon for his campaign to engage the whole community. |
| His friends admired his dedication but will remember him more for his humour and wit, his uproarious laughter, his widely eclectic reading in modern history, particularly the first world war, and his love of France and French wines. He would loudly gargle vintage clarets in the local bistro, entirely oblivious of his neighbours' startled glances. | His friends admired his dedication but will remember him more for his humour and wit, his uproarious laughter, his widely eclectic reading in modern history, particularly the first world war, and his love of France and French wines. He would loudly gargle vintage clarets in the local bistro, entirely oblivious of his neighbours' startled glances. |
| A wise spiritual guide to dozens of people, Richard collected people as others collect stamps. He would drive long distances to keep in touch with the frail or lonely, taking with him vegetables grown in his garden or marmalade made by his own hands. | A wise spiritual guide to dozens of people, Richard collected people as others collect stamps. He would drive long distances to keep in touch with the frail or lonely, taking with him vegetables grown in his garden or marmalade made by his own hands. |
| He was instinctively ecumenical. He settled a century-old dispute with the Roman Catholic Duke of Norfolk on the day he was appointed vicar of Arundel in 1965. | He was instinctively ecumenical. He settled a century-old dispute with the Roman Catholic Duke of Norfolk on the day he was appointed vicar of Arundel in 1965. |
| And when he was chaplain to the English community in Pau, south-west France (2000-02), he became a close friend of the local Roman Catholic parish priest and was invited to preach in his fluent but idiosyncratic French and even to concelebrate at mass. | And when he was chaplain to the English community in Pau, south-west France (2000-02), he became a close friend of the local Roman Catholic parish priest and was invited to preach in his fluent but idiosyncratic French and even to concelebrate at mass. |
| There were many occasions when he was asked to mediate in bitter personal conflicts and distressing pastoral problems. He had a quiet judicious wisdom which untied many knotty problems, and people trusted him. Many will feel that a great oak tree has disappeared from the land. | There were many occasions when he was asked to mediate in bitter personal conflicts and distressing pastoral problems. He had a quiet judicious wisdom which untied many knotty problems, and people trusted him. Many will feel that a great oak tree has disappeared from the land. |
| He is survived by Anne and two daughters. | He is survived by Anne and two daughters. |