FATHER JOHN PATRICK DAVIS (194247)

John Davis was born in Nuneaton on 10th October, 1929, where his father was in the Police Force. On his father's posting to Alcester, John began his schooling there at St Joseph's Primary School. Later the family moved back to Nuneaton so John transferred to another St Joseph's School.

Father John Davis.

In 1942 he went to Cotton and became known for his keen sense of humour and his prowess on the Rugby field. He took his rightful place in the First XV during his last two years at school. He went to Oscott College in 1947 and continued his Rugby, thus maintaining a sylph-like figure. Sadly he had rather a serious accident which put him out of commission for some time and which subsequently led to his being forced to do an extra year of studies at Oscott. On 12th June, 1954, he was ordained in the church of his childhood - Our Lady of the Angels, Nuneaton - to the great joy of his mother and father, his sisters, Peggy and Eileen, and his Parish Priest, Fr Ben Cox. John had, in effect, achieved what he had always wanted from very early childhood: the priesthood.

His first appointment was to Warwick. Here could be seen the `wild curate' tearing around the narrow streets on his gleaming motor bike: the envy of all young male parishioners. The Archbishop then decided to send him to Abbey Hulton to help Fr Jim O'Sullivan for three months. Nine years later, a beautiful church having been built and thousands of pounds raised, John came back to the Midlands to Father Charlie O'Reilly at Weoley Castle. After three years there he was rewarded for his efforts as curate and became Parish Priest of Cradley Heath. After ministering there for some five years, he was sent to Great Haywood, near Stafford. This really was his scene. He loved the countryside; he loved peace and tranquillity; and even more he loved being amongst all the local Staffordshire History in which he had always taken, and continued until his death to take, a tremendous interest. Sadly for John, this was short-lived; nine months later, much to his chagrin but in his typical spirit of obedience, he went to Chasetown. There he worried greatly about property and similar problems with the result that his health began to decline. Things became too much for him and he was moved to Uttoxeter. It was there that the deterioration in his health really became obvious: he tried hard to work against the odds but his heart-condition worsened till he collapsed on Holy Innocents' Day and was rushed to hospital where he died peacefully on 7th January this year. It was always his wish that he should die in harness, a wish that he confided to several close friends, and a wish that was fulfilled.

The vast number of friends, priestly and lay, at his funeral was testimony of their love for him. He was a quiet, somewhat shy, man but with a great love for people, especially the elderly and the sick. His keen, dry sense of humour was much appreciated by all who knew him. Who will ever forget his chuckle and roguish smile? The Mass: he loved. The new Liturgy? Well, perhaps he really was not too bothered. It was rather significant that his two sisters and their husbands attended the last four Masses which he ever celebrated. To his devoted house-keeper, Paula, he had given the list of hymns for his Requiem two weeks before his death. To close friends he had jokingly said that he would not make old bones; nor did he, dying at the age of 55. He was well-loved, respected and the most generous of men; great of heart, he was incapable of pettiness. This labourer in the vineyard of the Lord was buried at Oscott and we await the day when we shall be united with him in Heaven.

Peter Lees

FATHER JOHN CALLAGHAN (1942-49)

During the last war many immigrants settled in the industrial areas of our diocese, particularly in Birmingham and Coventry, and added greatly to the numerical strength of the Church. The Church, for a time, made enormous strides forward. The fact that there existed a goodly number of parishes, particularly in Birmingham, which formed a spring-board for this significant advance, made all this possible. In proportion there were a lot of outstanding Catholic families, generous in their service and support of the Church and, as if it were all second nature, many vocations were forthcoming from them as well. John Callaghan came from just such a family.

John arrived at Cotton in the middle of the war and editions of `The Cottonian' give clear indication that he was a brilliant student. I was in the same form with him for seven years and the form prize was automaticlly so much his that, in true Walter Hagen fashion, one wondered who was going to be second. Quiet by disposition, he had a gentle whimsical sense of humour, seemingly taking each hurdle in life like a good Grand National horse. He was not athletic nor robust-looking, although he was rarely ill. He did like his food and in those days of rationing it did not exactly abound, particularly at Cotton.

At Oscott he was much sought after to assist those of us less bright with the intricacies of Philosophy and Theology. Assistance was readily and modestly given. Recognition

Father John Callaghan.