PREBENDARY Chad Varah, who founded the worldwide Samaritans organisation, died in hospital in Basingstoke on Thursday of last week, aged 95.
The Prince of Wales, patron of the Samaritans, paid tribute to an “outstanding humanitarian” whose organisation “has saved the lives of countless people since 1953”. Prebendary Varah began the charity in St Stephen Walbrook, in London. It has since grown to an international organisation, giving confidential support to hundreds of thousands. More than 15,000 volunteers work in 202 branches in Britain and Ireland.
The Archbishop of Canterbury praised his “distinctively pastoral and wholly non-judgemental approach to people in need, especially those coping with depressive illness. . . He will be greatly missed.”
Obituary