Dover schoolboy became Archdeacon

A FORMER Dover Grammar School boy who went on to become Archdeacon of Bromley has died after a long battle against illness He was 75.

LONG BATTLE. The Ven Edward Francis

The Ven Edward Francis was born in Dover in January 1929. He was evacuated during the war years and completed his studies at Maidstone grammar school.

Called up for National Service he joined the Royal Air Force and spent some time in Malaya. On demob he worked in insurance for about 10 years.

At 30, he was one the first intake of mature ordinands into Rochester Theological College in 1959.

From 1961 until 1964 Mr Francis, known to friends and family as Ted, served his first curacy at Frindsbury with Upnor.

In 1964 he moved to Walderslade as the first curate in charge of St William's, Walderslade, now the parish of South Chatham and from 1971 as its first vicar.

From 1971 until 1978 he was Vicar of Rochester and Rural Dean, becoming Archdeacon at Bromley in 1979.

As well as his archdeaconry duties Mr Francis was also responsible for the care of non-stipendiary ministers in the Rochester diocese and was heavily involved in industrial mission for many years.

Mr Francis retired in 1994 but managed the Bishop's Fund for Mission for several years His first wife Joyce died and two years ago Mr Francis remarried. He leaves his widow Maureen and sons Paul, Nigel, Jonathan and their families.