Farewell service for vicar

    PRESENTATIONS were made on Sunday to mark the retirement of the Rev John Philpott as Vicar of Whitfield and Guston.
    The ceremony took place at Whitfield Village Hall after Mr Philpott conducted his last service at the parish church where he had been for 26 years.

GOODBYE TO FRIENDS: The Rev John Philpott and Mrs Paddy Philpott with parishioners after Sunday's retirement presentation at Whitfield Village Hall Ref 25973

    Mr Philpott, a former pupil at the Dover Boys' Grammar School and a past president of the old boys' association, the Old Pharosians, has decided to retire from full-time ministry.
    He is still offering himself as a non-stipendiary minister either in this deanery or adjoining deaneries.
    The congregation at Guston presented him with a whisky decanter and the Whitfield congregation presented him with a claret jug. He also received a cheque.
    A trug of dried flowers was presented to his wife, Paddy, who is a teacher at Astor School.
    Among those present were their daughters Rachel, Mary and Naomi, and their great-granddaughter Ella, who was named after Mr Philpott's mother who died in November.