THE widow of a long serving and popular vicar has said a big “thank you” to everyone who gave so generously in his memory.

Reverend Canon Geoffrey Oram, who passed away in June this year at the age of 98, was vicar in Aldeburgh between 1964 and 1980.

He was a popular and much loved figure in the town and counted composer Benjamin Britten and partner Peter Pears among his friends.

Following his passing his family asked for donations to the RNLI and more than �800 has now been raised in his memory.

Rev Oram’s wife, Ann, 83, said she would like to thank everyone who had given so generously.

“He was a very gentle, very modest person and he always had a ready smile and kind words,” she said. “He was very encouraging and people loved him.

“The RNLI was a cause very close to my husband’s heart. He used to know all the lifeboat crew and he would have been delighted with the level of donations. I can’t thank people enough.”

Mrs Oram said she was touched by the number of people who had sent her cards and offered kind words since her husband’s passing.

“It shows just how respected he was,” she continued. “A lot of the congregation at his funeral were younger people - their parents had known him and they came to pay their respects.”

Rev Oram had been a member of the Church of England for 74 years, having been educated at St Paul’s School in London and achieving a double first in classics and theology at Emmanuel College in Cambridge.

After graduating from theological college he took up a position in Rugby before moving to churches in Ipswich, East Bergholt and Aldeburgh.

His first wife, Kathleen, passed away in 1983, and he later remarried.

Following his retirement he moved to Ipswich, Playford and finally Woodbridge, where Mrs Oram still lives.

He remained an active member of the choir in Westerfield and was still on call to take services in the Bealings Benefice until his health deteriorated.

Rev Oram, leaves his second wife, Ann, three step children and four step grandchildren.