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Tribute to best-loved priest and chaplain
 One of the best-loved priests in Norfolk, who touched the lives of countless patients two decades as a hospital chaplain, has died.
Canon Leslie Ward spent his entire career ministering in Norfolk, including 20 years as chaplain of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Canon Ward was born in 1938 and attended Northgate Grammar School in Ipswich from 1949 to 1956. After two years' national service in the RAF, he went to Kings College in London and St Boniface, Warminster, before being ordained to the diaconate in 1962 and the priesthood in 1963.
He was curate of Earlham St Anne in Norwich for three years, then curate of Yarmouth from 1965 to 1970. In 1970 he became rector of Belton, which was joined a year later by Burgh Castle.
In 1983 he was appointed chaplain of the N&N. Canon Ward also spent two years as chaplain of the West Norwich and Colman hospitals.
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham James, said: "Leslie Ward was one of the best-loved priests in the diocese."
Friend Gill Webster said: "He saw God in everyone and never had a bad word to say. He was a gentle man and a gentleman."
Canon Ward was a widow, who met his late wife Patricia at the N&N. He leaves their two sons, Matthew and Simon.
Add your tribute to or memories of Leslie by using the button below.
Article courtesy of www.edp24.co.uk
October 2006
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| | Cynthia Elias (Guest) | 19/10/2006 17:04 | | A ttruly Christian man who gave great comfort to people in hospital.
| | | Kevin and Colleen Gotts (Guest) | 20/10/2006 08:39 | | Lesley was a tremendous support to our family some years ago when our son was hospitalised for a very long period. His quiet yet positive support and prayers will always be appreciated. A wonderful man of God.
| | | Canon John Minns (Guest) | 24/10/2006 11:11 | | I met Leslie soon after he moved from Belton to the N&N Hospital and shortly after his beloved wife, Pat had died.
I had the great privilege of knowing Leslie for virtually the whole of his ministry at the N and N Hospital, initially him administer Holy Communion to the wards on a Sunday morning, and then as his Part Time Assistant Chaplain for three and a half years from 1992. It was because of his loving care for the patients and staff, and as a result of the eucharist broadcast throughout the hospital on Sunday morning that he needed additional help, I was just one of many who came into the hospital to help him. I will always remember the way Leslie led this opening worship from the chapel, he did this with gentleness and the humility which always radiated from him, and was always relevant to the spiritual needs of the patients he served.
I soon realised not only how much he was loved by the patients but by staff as well, this was evidenced by the number of calls made upon his time, these were never denied. For me, this short period in my life was an important time, a time of great enjoyment, of fun and laughter as well as the inevitable sadness which goes with being a chaplain, and being alongside the dying or the bereaved. He taught me a lot especially how to be alongside those in grief, anger, despair and the crisis of faith sickness can sometimes bring. It ended prematurely on Coronary Care when I was fortunate enough to be ministered too by Leslie when he helped me face the challenge of sickness. He was an example to us all.
If he wasn’t seen wandering around the wards, he would be found seated at his desk in the Vestry next door to the chapel, surrounded by pieces of paper, where all were welcomed with a smile. Towards the end of his ministry in hospital, Rev Sheila Nunney and Fr Darren Thornton were a tremendous help to him as the Parkinson's Disease began to take its toll.
The old N & N was a massive part of his life, but this did not lessen his devotion to his family, especially to Matthew and Simon who have both followed their Father into the Anglican priesthood.
This loving, God fearing ptiest will be missed by many
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