Worshippers have lavished praise on a former headteacher and retired priest for half a century of service to the south Farnham community at a leaving event.

Churches of The Bourne Parish came together last Sunday to bid farewell to Revd David Adams after 50 years of devoted and unpaid service to St Thomas, St Martin’s and Brambleton Hall-church.

David has baptised, married and buried – or hatched, matched and despatched – a high proportion of The Bourne since being attached to the parish in 1974.

He’s also been responsible for educating hundreds, if not thousands, as he was headmaster of Weydon School for 16 years.

David was born in Country Antrim and studied Divinity at Trinity College in Dublin before becoming a curate in Belfast.

He felt that education was his strongest vocation after doing some teaching in a local primary school but a meeting with a devout Roman Catholic refugee from Franco’s Spain proved inspirational.

It resulted in David switching to unpaid ministry whilst teaching professionally – or having one foot in Rome and another in Canterbury as guests as his farewell heard.

He helped Weydon School through a rough patch after becoming its head in 1982 and continued to advise schools in special measures for many more after retiring from teaching in 1998.

He occasionally conducted services in the Royal Chapels after later being appointed a Queen’s Chaplain in recognition for his work in both community and the church.

He also took part in the vigils for the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret and steadied the parish back home in the Bourne as eight vicars came and went.

The depth of gratitude at his farewell service was palpable but further appearances have been promised at the Brambleton Community Fridge and don’t be surprised to see him at future services.