
John Eckersley died peacefully on 4th January 2021 at home, in Flamborough, with his wife, Nancy and his daughter, Tanya.
John was well-known across the Diocese. He was first licensed as a Reader in the Diocese of Jamaica in 1974 and has served the Church in the Diocese of York and the Diocese of Ripon, in that capacity for more than 40 years.
John was always conscious of his calling as a teacher. He first taught in secondary school on VSO in the Sudan, then in Manchester, in York, in Jamaica, and for 25 years at St Aidan’s CE High School in Harrogate. At St Aidan’s he was also a lay chaplain, inspiring his students in practical Christianity through his somewhat wacky Assemblies and fund-raising activities, and earning himself the staff nickname of ‘Johnny Carport’.
After his retirement he continued following his calling as a teacher and fundraiser by heading up Summer-club activities for primary school children in York and continuing to take primary school assemblies as an official Christian Aid volunteer in York and then later in Flamborough, Bempton, Kilham and Scarborough when Nancy retired from stipendiary ministry.