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Father David Sutcliffe dies
Bob Tebbit
As one of his former school colleagues who still works at his school in Barnham near Bognor Regis, I would like to add to this tribute, referring to "pre-Uckfield" times. David Sutcliffe was Head of Music at the St Philip Howard Catholic High School in Barnham for about 15 years until 1983. He had remarkable musical skills and nurtured those of countless students over the years. He was an extraordinary character who will be remembered with fondness by all who came across him, whether as a teacher or student. He had the remarkable gift of memory and was able to write a musical over a weekend, which would be performed by staff and students in the school a few weeks later. Two that instantly spring to mind are "The Life of St Philip Howard" and "St Francis". He was proud to have been born in the East End of London but had to be evacuated to Southend during the war. He was an enthusiastic motor cyclist in his younger days and enjoyed a good pint of real ale. On leaving the school he presented the staff with a beautiful pen and ink drawing of a tranquil stream passing under a bridge. He hoped that this would be a calming influence for anyone who viewed it. This was drawn by his sister Pauline and still hangs in the staffroom today. A former member of the school staff said: “He had such a gentle nature and a dry sense of humour. He was a man of true humility, who left his mark on all who knew him. May he rest in peace.” Another of his former colleagues said: “This is the loss of a real character - the kind of personality that is not easily replaced. I have many fond memories of times spent in David's company. Sports days, lunches and adventure holidays will be lesser occasions for his absence.” The school was delighted to welcome him back in October last year to help celebrate its Golden Jubilee. He attended a social gathering on the Saturday afternoon, recalling numerous anecdotes of his time at SPH and also concelebrated the Golden Jubilee Mass at the Cathedral the following Monday evening. Both occasions gave him great joy and pleasure. He was also the organist and choirmaster at St George’s Church in Eastergate, where he lived for many years. David played guitar in several rock and pop groups, performing regularly at many local venues. He was dogged by ill health and was forced to have a number of lengthy operations. He decided that his calling was to the priesthood and eventually became a popular Parish Priest in the Barnham & Slindon Parish.
(Added Thursday, September 9th, 2010)
James Chasteauneuf
Yep, lovely bloke. David - genuinely great - and I'm sure he's sharing in the complete joy of heaven - I had some super driving holidays with him to Assisi & places between 1987 & 1990 - very fond memories. A warm and generous soul. Interested in people & art. Easy to talk to. Pick up where you left off. Great with the youth (when I was) - a great host facilitating gatherings at his presbytery for BBQs when a bunch of us visited for a number of August bank holidays - a joy to be around, a catalyst for good company. Enjoy company down the pub - a games of darts with rascals. An inspiration to me. I transferred some of his music compositions, he had written during his music teaching years, from audio tape to CD for him, which I believe he had re-worked and written up in recent years. A big fan of St Francis of Assisi. A gentleman. He set a great example of how to know God's joy and peace in a real way - the sort of guy I'd like to do anything for at the drop of a hat. Very much alive to me - and always will be.
(Added Thursday, September 9th, 2010)
Yvonne Sharp
R.I.P Dearest Father David, A very special man. A man who saw the world as it really is. I will never forget the words he said to me when I was going through a tough time. He had a wonderful humour. I have missed him very much but always saw him around now....well he can/will never be replaced.Father David Sutcliffe.....remembered with many many memories.
(Added Thursday, September 9th, 2010)
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Pauline Sutcliffe
My brother David was one of nine children brought up in a Catholic household in the Franciscan Seminary parish at St. Anthony’s, Forest Gate. The Ursuline nuns at the Convent Preparatory School never let him forget that he announced he was going to be priest on his First Holy Communion day in 1938. Canon Bishop of Romford, Essex, taught David Latin and the Royal Liberty School at Gidea Park taught him Greek as they helped prepare him for Mark Cross seminary which he entered in 1946. David went to the English College in Rome but left about six months before he was to be ordained. The family never asked why and he never told us. He then taught at a school in London while he waited for a place at the Guildhall School of Music where he gained his degree in two years. He inherited his musical talents from our mother who was a brilliant piantist and had a lovely mezo-soprano voice. During this time he was proposed marriage daily by the Headmaster’s daughter where he had taught, (so she told me), the delightful Rosemary, whom we all loved very much but David had other ideas. He taught at Eastergate where he had a heart attack but after a heart by-pass operation, recovered well enough to return to Wonersh Seminary for three years to enter the priesthood, obviously his greatest desire. He was ordained a Deacon in 1985 then into the priesthood at the Carmelite Convent, Chichester, on 12th July 1986. David enjoyed the support of our parents and his siblings on his way to the priesthood. Molly and Peter kept him going money wise in the early days after my father died in 1953, and then Anne who deserves special mention as a very generous, attentive sister to him, and to Peggy in particular, and me. I received an Email from David just before he went into hospital for the last time. He was a well loved brother and uncle; a sweet little round baby with long black eye-lashes, (the envy of his sisters), and a delightful, very clever boy, who walked around always reading – on and off buses, along the road, on one occasion during the war, beneath aircraft in a ‘dog-fight’ overhead with Mother desperately calling to him to hurry into the shelter. The family would like to thank you, Bishop Kieran, and you Father David and Deacon David and parishioners and friends, for the devotion shown to him and join you in thanking God for him. Pauline Sutcliffe
(Added Thursday, September 9th, 2010)