Canon Brian Macdonald-Milne writes:

FURTHER to your obituary of the Revd Tom Devonshire Jones (Gazette, 13 March): in the somewhat monastic atmosphere of Cuddesdon College in the 1950s, Tom seemed to live on a somewhat different plane from most of us. He loved to play Brahms, and would make a movement as if to swoon at the mention of his (apparently) favourite composer. To provide a literary aspect to our studies, the Vice-Principal boldly gathered a group to study Dante. Tom was enthralled, and was by far the most eager to embrace Dante's world.

After I had served in the Pacific Islands, he discussed with me the influence of that part of the world on Matisse, about whom he was enthusiastic, especially when he learned that the artist had been inspired by the calico loincloths worn by many throughout the islands, as on them were often floral designs of great boldness.

Tom had a refreshingly artistic approach to life in general, and we his contemporaries benefited from the warmth of his personality. It would be good if the arts could continue to be blessed and encouraged by the Church in general, and by the clergy in particular, as he hoped and prayed would increasingly be the case.