A memorial service is being held next month for a former South Holland vicar who started his own postal service.
The Rev David Hill died aged 88 on Thursday, January 5 at his Berkhamsted home and was well-known in the Spalding area.
During his time at St Nicholas in Lutton, he set up the East Elloe Post, complete with stamps, during a postal strike in 1971 which saw collection points and deliveries across the area.
The stamps, which went on to become collectible, were priced at 2/6d and also 12.5p after decimalisation, which happened mid-way through the strike.
The money raised was used to install a heating system in the village church.
His son Matthew said Rev Hill, who was also the vicar at Pinchbeck, was a well-known figure who enjoyed spending time with his family, including 12 grandchildren.
His wife Jane, a former teacher, died during a COVID lockdown in 2020, and a memorial service will be for both of them as numbers were limited for Mrs Hill’s funeral due to the pandemic.
The couple had four children, Emma, Matthew, Zoe and Candida, who died in 2012.
David also set up St Martins Vestments that employed several skilled seamstresses for a quarter of a century in his Luton Parish as well as setting up the Spalding Cycle Action Committee (now called PEDALS) and was in the South Holland Singers .
“He was a real character and well-known,” said Matt.
The service is planned for February 4, at Spalding Parish Church, St Mary and St Nicolas, from 2pm. Any updates will go on the church Facebook page.
