The biggest event in my world this month was the death of my great old friend and “mentor” John Papworth. You will find suitable obituaries for him in the Times, the Telegraph and the Church Times. John was the energetic catalyst for many great thinkers who pioneered new ways of looking at the world in the important years between 1970 and 1990. This is the short doggerel I wrote for the private service at his woodland burial. It will give you some idea of this unusual, independent minded and gifted man.
The full obituary I wrote for the Church Times follows here.
JOHN PAPWORTH
John the Cook, the Scribe, the Dad
Full of wisdom though some thought him mad
His meals delicious, spiced with love
Sumptuous bounty from the good Lord above
With bags of energy, never bored
His pen was mightier than the sword
He preached and spread the word of God
Though some senior clerics though him odd
Great pals with Schumacher, Seymour and Kohr
Nicholas A, Kirkpatrick Sale and many more
He inspired “Resurgence”, the “Fourth World” too
Great visionaries like John are all too few
John was a great actor, orator and friend
Knew Shaw and Shakespeare from end to end
He changed my life and that's no lie
So I've come today to say “Goodbye”