It was with great sadness that the residents of Old Basing and Lychpit learnt
of the death of David Picton, Vicar of St Mary’s from 1989 to 2002.
David was essentially a man of and for the parish. Few who lived here failed to
make contact with him in some way. Many, of course, knew him through their
membership of St Mary’s, his rôle as Chaplain of the Royal British Legion or as
a consequence of his involvement in family events - baptisms, marriages and
deaths. But David was a man of many talents and interests that quickly drew him
into the wider life of the parish. He was a highly respected member of two local
art clubs and sang both with the church choir when they performed special
musical works and on occasions with the Basing Singers. In the Basing Mummers’
performances he starred as the infidel Black Knight, suffering from the sharp
sword and tongue of St George (usually played by the curate, Jeremy Stagg). Many
will remember his and Kathy O’Loughlin’s performances in dialogues and playlets
which sometimes supported or replaced sermons. More recently he was persuaded to
come out of retirement to take part in the first village pantomime.
During David’s time at St Mary’s, the village expanded, particularly with the
rapid development of Lychpit. This led to many new faces in the congregation.
They found a Church and vicar receptive to new ideas and fresh initiatives.
PIOCC was established and resulted in greatly improved churchyard maintenance
and the development of a very successful conservation area by a committed group
of church members and parishioners. A festival of flowers, arts and music became
an annual event, attracting visitors, not just from Basing and Lychpit but from
much further afield. The Friends of St Mary’s was established and has ever since
provided a varied programme of fund-raising activities for all to enjoy.
Ecumenical initiatives were encouraged. Catholics used the Church for their
weekly mass. Churches Together in Old Basing organised joint Lent study group
meetings, annual Christmas parties and other social events. The parish has a
reputation for being a friendly place in which to live and David fostered and
developed this strength.
David has left St Mary’s with an impressive tangible legacy, for in his time the
Church underwent a major restoration –initiated by his suggestion that the
building needed redecoration. At a tenth anniversary Friends’ party just before
Christmas, David paid tribute to the organisation’s significant fund-raising in
support of his redecoration proposal. He went on to give a typically
entertaining account of how his initial idea escalated to include roof repairs,
beam replacements, new lighting, sound and heating systems and then, finally,
implementation of the proposal to paint the internal walls. Throughout this time
of major upheaval services continued, David insisting that we should not become
preoccupied with the renovation project at the expense of our worship and the
wider work of the Church.
Those who worked closely with David found him to be a natural, easy leader. He
guided rather than instructed and was quick to withdraw when he felt that
responsibility could be devolved – yet he also knew when to intervene if further
help was needed. He was a good preacher and had a happy knack of embracing the
whole congregation with its many different views. David was a much-loved
shepherd of his people and we rejoiced when his work here was recognised by the
Authorities and we were able to accompany him to Winchester and witness his
becoming a Canon of the Cathedral. He led many of us into a fuller understanding
of our faith and what is meant by loving God and each other. His warmth,
honesty, keen sense of humour and humility have guided many of us on our life
journey. We have very happy memories of ‘life in the time of David’ and for all
that he achieved we will be forever grateful.
As the current Vicar of Old Basing & Lychpit I would like to add my own
tribute to my predecessor David Picton. The irony is that I didn’t know David
terribly well; after all, he moved from the parish in September 2002 and I
arrived in January 2003. Nevertheless since then I met him on a number of
occasions and would bear testimony to his dry sense of humour and his faithful
service to the Church of England; a vision of which was of a Church that should
be inclusive and generous in its service of the parish, something which I
believe he reflected in his own style of ministry. David I know immersed himself
in the life of this community, conscious as all Church of England clergy should
be that we are called to serve the whole parish, not only the churchgoers of it.
Just think how many people he baptised, married and buried in his time; in this
way his presence touched the lives of so many in this community as did his
governorship of St Mary’s CE Junior School, his chaplaincy of the British
Legion, and many other local roles. In church terms he was an honorary Canon of
Winchester Cathedral, which is a sort of ecclesiastical OBE, a recognition of
his service to the Diocese of Winchester, not least as Area Dean of Basingstoke.
My personal tribute would have to include David’s vision for and restoration of
the St Mary’s Church building; since it spares the present congregation many
worries. Sir Christopher Wren’s memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral reads in Latin
'If you seek his memorial, look about you.' I would say the same of David: look
at St Mary’s Church, look at the lives enriched by his ministry of word and
sacrament. Ultimately as a Christian priest he was a witness of the love of God
revealed in Jesus Christ; in that way David was a faithful priest who left so
much to those who follow him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Fr Andrew
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to a Founder Member of the
Friends of St Mary’s, the Reverend Canon David Picton, who died on Sunday 4th
March. David was the incumbent during a golden decade in the history of St
Mary’s, a decade in which he inspired and presided over the transformation of a
leaking, dry rot and death-watch beetle infested church, into the pristine
building we see today. The team that David assembled to carry out fund raising
and then the two phases of restoration work, were continually encouraged,
assisted, cajoled, and strategically dined, keeping them interested and on their
toes, and eventually leading to the formation of the Friends of St Mary’s under
the chairmanship of Betty Holmes. We will remember David as a good-humoured,
down-to-earth, would-be actor; a western-movie-loving, Laurel & Hardy fan, a
steam- engine enthusiast, an artistic, gourmet of-a-Vicar. Above all, a true
gentleman, whose vision, friendship and faith we were all privileged to share.
Our sympathy go to Veronica and the whole of David’s family.
The Friends of St Mary’s Management Committee
I know other people will be recording the very sad passing of David Picton in
this issue but I am determined to mention him in this WI article. For a start,
Veronica was one of our members during her time at the Vicarage and in fact we
marked the 75th Anniversary of the whole National movement at the Vicarage on
Tuesday 11th September 1990 with an evening party. Don’t forget I am the
custodian of the scrap books and there are some lovely photos in it of the
occasion. Then on Tuesday 5th September 2000 dear David was our speaker at the
monthly meeting. I wrote at the time “Perched on his own special high stool in
true Dave Allen stance (tho’ minus the glass of whisky!) the Rev’d David Picton
spoke on the Lighter Side of a Vicar’s Life and in particular pre his arrival
here in 1989. A Vicar’s son he reckoned it was ‘in the genes’ to follow suit.
Thus Chichester Theological College and where he met Veronica followed after his
Oxford University days – onwards in the 1960s to Hulme-Manchester area with the
added attractions of Old Trafford cricket ground and Man United football.”
Way back in time there was a six year period when David wrote the middle page
article every month – I also was writing my WI article then. I well remember
reading his laid back, relaxing articles and then looking at my own prim, proper
and stiff wording. I vowed to try and copy David’s easy reading – it took quite
a while but I think I have finally achieved it. I never told David and now he
has died I rather regret not telling him tho’ I know he would only have laughed
it off.
Heather Quilter