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 attended St John the Evangelist Church in Vicarage Road, Oxford, on Tuesday for the funeral.

The priest spent 21 years as a magistrate at Oxford. 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 retired from the bench aged 70 in 2006.

The Welshman was a graduate of Durham University before he read theology at St Catherine’s, Oxford.

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

Tim Pocock, deputy chairman of Oxford city magistrates’ bench, said: “He was a very good magistrate, but also a wonderful chap and could keep us all amused.”

Mr Davis also taught Hebrew and Old Testament studies at the Oxford Anglican theological college St Stephen’s House.

Current South and New Hinksey parish priest Father James Wilkinson said: “John was a very funny, witty man. He was also very clever and because he had bad sight towards the end of his life his sermons were preached off the cuff, as it were, but they were always stunning.”