Canon John Pinder writes:

CANON Desmond Probets, who died on 9 April, aged 87, served in England and Melanesia, in a ministry of 63 years. He trained at King's College, London, under Eric Abbott. He was ordained priest in St Paul's Cathedral in December 1952, and served curacies at St Clement's, Finchley, and St Mary's, Kenton.

In 1962, Desmond was accepted for missionary service in Melanesia, and was appointed Sub-Warden of St Peter's Theological College, Siota, on the island of Gela, in Solomon Islands. It was the start of a love affair with Melanesia which was to last for the rest of his life. It was during this time that he married Jennifer in St Hilda's Chapel, Bunana.

In 1964, Bishop Alfred Hill asked Desmond to be the headmaster of All Hallows' School, Pawa, known as the "Eton of the Pacific". His task was to turn this boys' boarding school into an institution that would train future leaders and clergy of Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides, which were moving towards independence. He had a wide range of skills, including animal husbandry, and a knowledge of tropical medicine, much needed on a remote island far from a proper hospital. A fine teacher, and a wonderful pastor, Desmond was ably supported by Jennifer, who acted as honorary school matron.

Pawa School was increasingly seen as too remote from Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. Nearly all the students came from isolated rural areas, and they needed to experience urban life. The new Bishop, John Chisholm, asked Desmond to prepare the school for a move to the main island of Guadalcanal, and the new church co-educational boarding establishment of Selwyn College was launched in 1970.

Bishop Chisholm next asked Desmond to be Dean of the new Cathedral of St Barnabas in Honiara. Under his leadership, the cathedral flourished, and was the scene for many exciting events, including a production ofMurder in the Cathedralby students of Selwyn College, to mark the centenary of the martyrdom of Bishop Patteson.

The first three Probets children were born in the Solomons, and, with a young and growing family, the couple felt that the time had come to return to England. It was not an easy decision, but Desmond felt it was right that Solomon Islanders should take leadership in a country that was nearing independence. He served Melanesia in this country, giving hospitality to visiting Melanesians, acting as vice-chair of the Melanesian Mission, and commissary to the Archbishop of Melanesia.

For the next 20 years, Desmond was Vicar of Timperley, a large and lively parish, and from 1978, Rural Dean of Bowden. He was also instrumental in establishing a flourishing link between the diocese of Chester and Melanesia. In 1982, he was made an Hon. Canon of Chester.

Desmond was a warm and generous person, and touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family. His wife and their five children survive him.