Canon John Sykes writes:
THE Revd David Charles Frederick Tudor, who died on 16 October, aged 74, was one of those remarkable priests who were gifted in more than one discipline. He trained as an electrical engineer, and worked for the Cologne tramways for several years as an inspector and tester of trams, wearing a marvellous uniform, which exuded authority.
David had been a lover of trams since he was a boy, and was a member, and later trustee, of the Crich Tramway museum in Derbyshire. He was fluent in German, and maintained his friendships in that country over the years. He was ordained in 1973, in Exeter, and served his title at St Peter’s, Plymouth.
In 1975, he came to St Elisabeth’s, Reddish, as assistant curate, and served three years of fruitful ministry with me in that very large urban parish. He introduced pilgrimages to Walsingham, which the young people especially enjoyed, and, after he left, the pilgrimages became an annual event.
David served in Rochdale, Goldenhill, Meir, Sheffield, and Nottingham hospitals, and finally as Priest-in-Charge of St George’s in the Meadows, Nottingham: the Kelham Fathers’ church. He was delighted to be chaplain to the Nottingham Transport undertaking, especially as they had trams, and he continued to drive trams at Crich until ill-health prevented him.
David was a quiet reserved man with a subtle sense of humour, who was empathetic. He was a good Catholic priest in the Church of England, and served his parishes and chaplaincies with devotion and commitment. Our sympathy goes to his sister, niece, and nephew.