William Hogan

He spent all but four years of his active ministry in parishes in Yorkshire, with the majority of that time as vicar of St Thomas’s Church, Greetland, near Halifax.

The Rev William Hogan, who was always known as Bob, was born in Rangoon, the then capital of Burma, the eldest son and third child of William Conrad Hogan, a shipping executive for the Blue Star Line, and his wife Lillian. He had two older sisters, Shelagh and Phyllis, and a younger brother, Neville.

He went to school and university in Rangoon, but when the Japanese invaded Burma in 1942 during the Second World War he, his sisters and his mother left as refugees, leaving almost all their possessions behind. They settled in India where he then taught.

After the war, he came to England and did his theological training at Queen’s College, Birmingham, from 1947 to 1951. He was ordained as a deacon in 1951 and as a priest a year later and served as curate at Brighouse Parish Church.

In 1952, he met his wife, Catherine Crowther, and they married in November 1954 before leaving for Singapore where he served as priest-in-charge at St Hilda’s Cathedral, Katong, for the next four years during which time their first daughter was born.

After returning to England, the family moved to Greetland in early 1959 when he became vicar of St Thomas’s Parish Church where, as well as conducting regular services, parish life included pram services, Sunday school outings, garden parties, and choir outings. He loved singing and had a good tenor voice.

Three more children followed and he stayed in the parish for 21 years to give the family stability.

Only after his children left school did he move to be vicar of Kellington with Whitley, in East Yorkshire, and while there he officiated at the weddings of both his daughters.

He retired in 1987 and he and his wife moved to Carlton, near Goole. She died in 2002 and he then shared his home with his younger son, Timothy, until he moved into a care home at Snaith.

He loved sport and was an especially keen follower of cricket, hockey and football, but would watch any sport.

He also enjoyed the daily crossword puzzle.

He is survived by his four children, five grandchildren and his younger brother.

His funeral service will be held at St Thomas’s, Greetland, on Monday at 2.45pm.