A LONG-SERVING Oxford magistrate and priest has died aged 73.

Former parish priest for South and New Hinksey John Davis passed away after years of battling diabetes on Saturday, October 24.

More than 100 people packed into St John the Evangelist Church in Vicarage Road, South Oxford, on Tuesday to pay their respects to Mr Davis, who preached to hundreds of residents from his pulpit in 20 years of service to the city.

The priest was also well known for sentencing criminals in the 21 years he spent sitting at Oxford Magistrates’ Court in Speedwell Street.

Despite having his right leg amputated shortly after retiring from the clergy in 2001, Mr Davis of Kennett Road, Headington, continued as a magistrate until he reached the age of 70 in 2006.

Mr Davis was born in Wales in 1936 and was a former graduate of Durham University before he read theology at St Catherine’s College in Oxford.

After several years as a priest Mr Davis returned to the city in 1981 to take up a post based at St John’s Church in New Hinksey and St Laurence’s Church in South Hinksey.

Elizabeth Halcro, of St Lawrence Road, South Hinksey said: “He was a very, very popular figure in the village.

“He was a charming man, a true gentleman, very sociable and always very good entertainment.”

Tim Pocock, deputy chairman of Oxford city magistrates’ bench, said: “John was a valued voice on the bench for many years.”

Mr Davis did not leave any family.