Sarah Williams writes:
THE Revd Fred Wright, a former Rector of St Kenelm's, Romsley,
in Worcestershire, died on 23 March, aged 98. He had been a priest
for some 70 years.
Romsley was his last incumbency, for 13 years, before he retired
to Colne, where he continued to assist, as well as in other
parishes in the diocese of Ely. He presided at his last Prayer Book
communion service in March last year, aged 97, in his 30th year of
retirement.
Fred was born at Wood Farm, Stoneleigh, near Coventry. He was
the eldest of three children, with a brother, Tom, and sister,
Mary. He attended the local Church of England primary school before
gaining a scholarship to Coventry Junior Technical School, which he
left at 15.
He was articled to an auctioneer and estate agent in 1931, and,
passing all the Auctioneers and Estate Agents' examinations,
qualified as an Associate of their Institute in 1937. He always
said later that this training had been a good introduction to
becoming a parson, as it had meant that he met all sorts of
people.
His family was much involved with the parish of Westwood Heath.
As a teenager, Fred had become a server, and helped in the Sunday
school, and he later became a Reader. With his priest's
encouragement, Fred went forward for ordination. He was accepted by
the Theological Faculty of King's College, London, in 1939. His
training coincided with the Second World War, and the college was
moved to Bristol.
In June 1942, Fred graduated as an AKC. In July, he moved to the
Black Country, and was made deacon for St Michael's, Brierley Hill,
in Staffordshire. There, Fred met a member of the choir, Elsie
Adams. They became engaged, but had to wait to marry until Fred had
a position that provided a house. Elsie also served in the WRNS,
and was very adept at mathematics. During the war, she was a secret
translator, something that even Fred didn't know about for many
years.
In June 1943, Fred was ordained priest in Lichfield Cathedral,
before being appointed senior curate of St John's, the Pleck,
Walsall. Fred and Elsie married in June 1946. Their first child,
John, was born in 1947. A daughter, Janet, followed in 1953.
Fred moved to St Luke's, Headless Cross, Redditch, in Worcester
diocese, in 1954. He served there very happily for 13 years. As a
keen gardener - with nearly an acre of garden - he was in his
element. He grew all the fruit and vegetables for the family, kept
chickens and rabbits, and bees. He had found books on beekeeping in
the public library. After he built his first hive, a friend gave
him his first swarm. That year, Fred extracted 50 lb of honey and
sold it for £1 a jar.
In retirement, Fred and Elsie moved to be closer to their
daughter and grandchildren. Elsie died in March 1983. Fred
continued to be busy as an auxiliary chaplain at Ely Cathedral, and
as a padre for the British Legion. He helped regularly in Colne and
Bluntisham parishes until increasing mobility difficulties caused
him to retire fully.
His funeral was held in Romsley on 3 April, and a thanksgiving
service was held in Colne on 6 April.
