Ted Longford – Father Ted as he will always be known to us – died peacefully on 17th July 2010, aged 85.

Edward de Toësny Wingfield Longford came from a strongly ecclesiastical family and was educated at Westminster School, where his contemporaries included Flanders and Swann. During the War he served as an officer in the Coldstream Guards, after which in 1946 he went up to Christchurch, Oxford. He was a keen sportsman, representing the University of Oxford at hockey and almost at cricket too. Golf became a life-long enthusiasm. But sport wasn’t Ted’s only interest at Oxford, and he and Joan met through a drama production they were in together.

Ted began his formation for the priesthood at St Stephen’s House Oxford, under Canon Arthur Couratin, before completing his studies at Wells Theological College.

He was a priest in the Church of England for over 57 years, serving mainly in the Diocese of Ely. Ted served for an unusual two terms (15 years) as Precentor of Ely Cathedral, at a time when the liturgy at the Cathedral had a good reputation (one Easter Vigil was even reviewed in The Times). During this period, as Precentor he was also Archpriest with pastoral responsibility for the parish of Chettisham, and he also gave voice coaching at Ely Theological College.

Afterwards Ted served a substantial incumbency of 22 years in the Gamlingay group of parishes, until his retirement.

He also served the Diocese and wider Church in several other capacities, including Rural Dean of St Neots, the Diocesan Finance and Housing Committees, the General Synod, and as Diocesan Chairman of the Federation of Catholic Priests (FCP).

As for so many loyal Anglicans, the 1990s were not a happy time for Ted. After the General Synod’s decision to make lawful the ordination of women to the priesthood of the Church of England, he felt, and was, marginalised by the Diocese he had served so long and loyally.

The Longfords’ association with St Edmund’s Downham Market began well over a decade ago, starting during Father Keeling’s time (though from earlier days they could recall getting stuck in the Downham Market bank holiday traffic on family trips to the coast, when the High Street was the A10!).

Initially, Ted celebrated a monthly Sunday 8 o’clock Mass. After Father Keeling’s retirement in 2000, at the request of the Churchwardens and PCC Ted gave the parish spiritual, liturgical and pastoral care for the 15 months of the interregnum before my Licensing as Parish Priest in September 2001. He knew what was what, and he and Joan made themselves scarce for the first several weeks of my incumbency to allow me some time to settle in; and being always professional, they asked first before returning.

For the 8½ years of my incumbency Ted, together with Joan (inseparable in our minds), offered me and Penny - as well as the parish - love, support and encouragement, knowing well enough the ups and downs, the stresses and strains of parsonage and parish life. And although he loved to reminisce, as a priest Ted wasn’t stuck in ‘yesterday’, and it was always possible to bounce ideas off him, without him being scared of new things.

St Edmund’s warmly welcomed Ted and Joan and gave them a spiritual home. There were many joyful times during their time with us at St Edmund’s. Their Golden Wedding Anniversary; Ted’s Golden Jubilee of Priesthood, at which the preacher was the former Bishop of Ely, Peter Walker; many parish liturgies, especially of Holy Week and Easter; the Bishop of Richborough ordaining Father Charles Miller to the Priesthood (more than once did we feel that we’d probably have to tether Ted to the ground for safety...). And he was immensely proud of our own in-house ordinand Alan (now Father Alan) Davies and the story and progress of his vocation.