We are very sorry to learn of the death of the Ven Jeff Watson, who retired as Archdeacon of Ely in 2004. Jeff was ordained in 1965 and served in the Dioceses of Rochester, Portsmouth, and Winchester, before his appointment in Ely in 1993.
For the last year, he had been in a care home in Southampton, suffering from dementia, and he died following an infection on Thursday 28 January. His funeral will be later this month, likely in Hythe, but limited owing to current Covid-19 restrictions.
The Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech remembers him as follows: “When Jeff became Archdeacon of Ely (now the Archdeaconry of Cambridge) he brought with him a love of parish ministry and this influenced everything he did as archdeacon. Jeff was compassionate, understanding and a pastor to many. His preaching was of a high standard and widely accessible. He had a great love of music, especially Barber Shop music, and an exotic line of waistcoats. He is remembered with great affection by those who worked with him.”
We give thanks for his life, ministry, and especially his service in this Diocese. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rosemary and his family.