Tributes paid to Rev John Woods who has died aged 89 (From Gazette & Herald)

Tributes paid to retired Ryedale minister who has died aged 89

11:39am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By David Jeffels

RETIRED Ryedale minister the Rev John Woods has died at the age of 89.

Mr Woods had a distinguished military career in the RAF during the Second World War before he entered the Anglican ministry.

He volunteered for the RAF Reserve in 1940 when he was 18, but could not go into active service until two years later when he became air crew.

Mr Woods, who lived at Deansfield Court, Furlongs Avenue, Norton, then become a commissioned pilot officer with Coastal Command and saw service in the United States, where he was assessed and became a bomber command pilot on liberator aircraft, taking part in a number of operational trips.

By D-Day he was working at RAF bases in Cornwall, patrolling off the southern coast to prevent German U-boats attacking allied shipping. Mr Woods was a founder member of the Ryedale branch of the Royal Air Force Assocation (RAFA) and current president and chairman Cyril Shreeve recalled how Mr Woods had been in a team of four liberators involved in a sortie, two of which were shot down by a German flagship.

Mr Shreeve said: “He quipped that he must learn to swim in case his aircraft was shot down over the sea.”

He ended his military career with the rank of squadron leader. After the war, Mr Woods flew passenger aircraft for BOAC between Britain and Australia.

Mr Shreeve said: “He gave wonderful service to the RAF and in later years, the RAFA.” Life took on a new dimension when, after graduating from the University of Reading, Mr Woods became assistant manager of an 8,000 acre farm in Lincoln. Then, with his wife Sheila, he decided to go to Kenya after seeing an advertisement in the Daily Telegraph which offered a ‘bright future to aspiring farmers’.

He went on to run an agricultural college before going into the ministry, initially as a curate at Kitze in Zambia, at the request of the country’s Archbishop, said Mrs Woods.

When the couple returned to England, Mr Woods served as a curate in Goole, then priest-in-charge at Firbeck, Letwell and Woodsetts in South Yorkshire, and then the Bishop of Sheffield’s rural advisor.

He retired in 1992 after 10 years as Rector of Barnburgh but a year later became a non-stipendary minister at Birdsall with Langton, and later priest-in charge at Settrington, North Grimston, as well as Birdsall and Langton, near Malton, serving until he finally stepped down in 1998.

“He was very dedicated in whatever he did,” said Mrs Woods. “He was a lovely man, much respected by evryone who came in contact with him.”

As well as his wife, Mr Woods leaves three daughters, Christine, Barbara and Alison, and a son, William, as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The funeral was held at St Peter’s Church, Norton, on Wednesday. Donations in his memory can be made to the RAFA and St Peter’s.