Tributes to servant of church and tax office (From Worcester News)

Tributes to servant of church and tax office

6:00am Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By David Wood

MORE than 350 people gathered at Pershore Abbey to remember a man of great Christian faith who was awarded the MBE for his long and exemplary work as a tax inspector.

John Gosney, who died on January 21, aged 81, was a member of Pershore Baptist Church for many years, serving variously as a deacon for 21 years and church treasurer for 18 years.

He also gave more than 25 years’ service as a volunteer with St Richard’s Hospice and was awarded the League of Mercy for his unstinting services to the community and for the hospice movement.

Mr Gosney moved to Pershore from Salisbury in 1967, settling in Pinvin with his wife Doreen and two young children, Paul and Alison, to take up responsibilities at the Evesham Tax Office.

At the service of thanksgiving at Pershore Abbey on Tuesday, February 7, friends and family gathered to remember a special and gentle man of faith, character and service.

Pershore Baptist Church minister Mark Jennings said: “He was always among the first to volunteer, whether it was in giving lifts to church, sharing in services at Willowbank and Heathlands, packing shoeboxes for the Operation Christmas Child appeal or by encouraging the young people in multimedia prayer stations set up to highlight the plight of suffering Christians around the world.

“John’s deeply-rooted faith in Christ was never insular. Full of wit and wisdom, he always displayed a warmth and openness for all matters ecumenical and remained a keen supporter of all Churches Together activities.”

Mr Gosney dearly loved sacred music and was a dedicated member of Pershore Choral for more than four decades. Serving as an active committee member, he was its long-time treasurer, then chairman and more latterly its membership secretary.

Current chairman Ron Haden noted that Mr Gosney held the distinction of having sung with all four directors of music.

Reflecting on his long service as a St Richard’s Hospice volunteer, former chairman Jeannie Young remembered that Mr Gosney, “although short of stature had a big heart, popping up everywhere, always willing to do anything to help patients, staff and volunteers”.

Rev Jennings said: “How fitting and comforting that he should pass peacefully into his Saviour’s presence in the tranquil and dedicated surrounding of the hospice he worked so tirelessly to support.”