Tributes to John Wilkins RIP

Tributes have been arriving from around the world to the much-loved former editor of The Tablet, author, broadcaster and friend to many, John Wilkins, who died on 26 April after a short illness.

John Anthony Francis Wilkins was the eldest child of Edward and Ena (née Francis), born in Cheltenham on 20 December 1936. He had a brother, Brian a biologist, who died 20 years ago, and sister, Angela, a nurse. John's father was a manufacturing chemist.

John won a scholarship to attend Clifton College, Bristol, and went on to study Classics and Theology at Clare College, Cambridge.

A university friend, Gillian Goodwin writes: "John has been a good and loving friend to me since the early sixties. This friendship expanded to include my husband and daughters.

We first met at Bede House which had been started in 1938 to help the poor of Bermondsey by Clare College Cambridge, where John had been a student. I was a young evangelical Anglican formed by All Souls, Langham Place, and he was finding his way to Catholicism. We had long discussions, or maybe it is truer to say he mainly did the talking. I could feel his perplexity, uncertainly, and keen desire to discover the right path. Over the many years we have known each other, from time to time he put the Catholic case, but finally accepted I was in the right place for me."

John did his National Service in the Gloucestershire Regiment. He began his career in journalism at the ecumenical journal Frontier in 1964. Describing his faith journey, John wrote in his parish newsletter: "I was converted fully to the Christian faith by the Church of England. My parents were non-conformist Protestants, who met and married in a Congregationalist church. Much later while I was at home in Bristol for the vacation, I went to evensong at the Anglican church of St Mary Redcliffe, where I felt called. I became a Catholic in 1965 at the end of the Second Vatican Council, which has been a guiding light to me as a journalist, editor and commentator."

John joined the Tablet as assistant editor in 1967. He left in 1972 to join BBC World Service as a producer. He returned after ten years to become editor in 1982.

A strong advocate of the Second Vatican Council, calling it "the blueprint and springboard for the Catholic Church as it enters the third millennium," in his first editorial in July 1982, he wrote: "Our concern is with the world as much as with the Church: with everything that is human. We shall seek to inform and interpret as well as to comment. We shall seek to entertain. Above all, we shall hope that in the future, as in the past, readers may find in our pages that message without which the world perishes."

During his 21 years as editor the circulation of the Tablet almost tripled.

Brendan Walsh, current editor, said: "John Wilkins gave us an unsurpassed lesson in how it is possible to combine brilliant, independent journalism with a deep love of the Church."

Author and journalist Austen Ivereigh, who was Wilkins's deputy, said: "He was a mentor, a friend, a genius editor, and I feel his loss."

Writing from St Kilda East in Australia, Robert Carey, Tablet Production Editor from Nov 1999 to June 2005 said: "I owe much to John Wilkins. As mercurial was his temperament on occasion, his encouragement of me - and of so many of us - was strong, loyal and sensitive. He was also a model, a Catholic editor who did what Catholic editors have rarely been able to do in the post-Conciliar Church: walk the delicate line between loyal acknowledgement of Church teaching and independent and sometimes critical commentary. He fearlessly ran after the Spirit moving where it will and insisted those movements were documented for us on the Tablet's pages. I picture him, with the same devotion and almost child-like reverence, raising his twitcher's glasses to the skies to catch the flashing-by of the birdlife he so fondly loved."

Annabel Smith ( nee Miller) writes: "I worked for John Wilkins for 13 years, as one of his assistant editors. For me, there is one moment which defined his editorship of the paper, and gave a rare insight into his very private character.

In 1990, The Tablet marked its 150th anniversary. There was a big Mass in Westminster Cathedral, and an address from Cardinal Basil Hume. During the address, which was largely positive, the Cardinal said something to the effect that The Tablet wasn't always helpful to the Church. I was taken aback by this, and so, I think were others. When we went next door to Archbishops' House for the reception, John jumped up on to a table. He delivered a passionate, impromptu address as to how it was not the job of The Tablet to be helpful. It was a critical friend of the Church. I can't remember the words, and I can't find a record of this moment anywhere, but I do remember John saying: 'We are not here to gild the lily.'

I was impressed, as a young journalist, by his sterling defence of independent Catholic journalism. I was also personally impressed by his bravery in standing up and fighting his corner in the face of such august company. I never forgot it."

Annabel added: "John was godfather to my eldest son, as he was to quite a few other young people. He was genuinely interested in them all, and never forgot a birthday."

Elena Curti recalls: "He would say that The Tablet had to 'shine a light in dark corners'. This applied very much to the paper's coverage of clerical abuse. This began many years before I joined The Tablet in 2001.

He never flinched from reporting what his journalists discovered, even if it pained him deeply. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that our task was to report the truth no matter how much it damaged the Church's reputation."

John retired in 2003 - leaving him more time to write. He was also on the leadership of ACTA, A Call to Action. In a tribute, Frank Callus on behalf of the ACTA Trustees writes: We "will remember John as a valued member of the leadership team from the earliest days of the organisation. With an eye for detail and an ear for the right tone of a press release, he was the consummate professional. His manner was gentle and he could be quietly spoken but there was a firmness of intellect that made itself felt. His generosity of spirit was evident in the way he used his many contacts [the BBC/ print journalism] to help to develop the media awareness of members. He managed the website and the press releases from the early days and his easy understanding of how to engage with his fellow professionals earned our respect, our admiration and thanks.

Any discussion of issues benefitted from his encyclopaedic knowledge, but that intelligence was balanced with a gentle amiability that touched many. Others have spoken of his infectious enthusiasm and his capacity to encourage and support others to flourish. He was a man who was generous of his skills, his experience, his capacity to engage.

The Trustees are aware of the debt we owe John for the all he did and all he encouraged to be done. For all this, and more, we extend to his family, friends and colleagues our deepest condolences at this time. Rest in Peace."

John Wilkins was an active member of his parish, Holy Apostles in Pimlico - serving on the parish council and writing a parish history. On Sundays he enjoyed attending the 10.30 Family Mass.

In 2015, John Wilkins was made a Doctor of Divinity, by Heythrop College, largely for his 21 years editorship of the Tablet. The citation reads: "He built up the Tablet as a platform for intelligent, mature and well informed communication, nearly trebling the circulation."

In her introduction, Anna Abram, head of Pastoral and Social Studies, said Wilkins has the quality of 'a quiet attentiveness."

In his response, John Wilkins expressed his gratitude and said the award was very unexpected, and he was particularly pleased because it came from the Jesuits. Recalling Leonardo Boff's comment on Pope Francis, Wilkins said that St Francis of Assisi was considered utopian in his time. Perhaps we had to wait for a Jesuit with Jesuit discernment to make that dream a reality.

Wilkins said John Henry Newman has been an important influence in his life. He reflected that Lord Hunt, one time chair of the Tablet board of governors who always had the passage from Newman in his wallet which says: 'God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he as not committed to another.' John concluded by saying he hoped that quotation would be an inspiration to all students and graduates of Heythrop.

In 2017 he published Lost in Translation: The English Language and the Catholic Mass, with Gerald O'Collins SJ.

Writing from Rome, Sr Gemma Simmonds CJ said: "As a journalist and a faithful Catholic John was valiant for truth. He gave voice to what was happening in the church and the world from a faith perspective in ways that woke us up to our baptismal responsibilities. He was always supportive as well as challenging and will be greatly missed."

JudyAnn Masters, former parish pastoral coordinator at Holy Apostles writes: "John Wilkins was an outstanding theologian, editor and writer. What I will remember best is John being a great friend who was loving, loyal and always there. His integrity was an example to all. He had a sharp sense of humour and irony that could keep me laughing through several cups of coffee. Our discussions on theology to politics to people etc. were not only informative, it was fun and entertaining. We were bubble buddies with years of friendship to support us through the covid lockdowns. Sundays won't seem the same. I will really miss you John, and that twinkle in your eyes.. See you on the other side."

Parishioner Jane Lowe writes: "John was a wise and dear friend. He revelled in debate and was a great listener too. During a chat, he would pause and then say…"ah, but you know Jane, what about… (and it could be a mischievously alternative view) ….now, what do you think about that Jane? He was highly informed, measured and unfailingly polite.

He loved dining at his favourite restaurant, down the perilous stairs to his regular table in Grumbles. The staff loved him and lavished attention on him especially when he dined there with the late Shirley Williams.

He was a true English gentleman. He will be sorely missed."

Another friend from the parish, artist Alice Robertson wrote: "He was a lovely man. A gentleman in the best sense of the word. I think he had a lot of lady friends because women just enjoyed his company. He was a good listener, very personable. You felt he could really see you for who you were."

John's parish, Holy Apostles, is twinned with the parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace, located in Todonyang in Turkana, in northern Kenya, on the remote desert borders between Sudan and Ethiopia, run by the Missionary Community of St Paul (MCSP) John Wilkins was a keen supporter of their work.

In a call from Malawi, Father Steven Ochieng, a priest working with the MCSP Kenya and Malawi, told ICN: "John Wilkins was a good friend of mine. I met him just a few weeks ago. He looked frail but full of life. He was very chatty and interested to hear about latest developments on the mission. He was one of the Trustees of the Rope Foundation and supported us for many years. They funded boreholes for water, built a school and other projects. John also donated funds personally. He was always keen to hear about the projects in Todonyang and elsewhere."

Another missionary who remembers John with affection and gratitude is Sister Irene Holland, a Sister of Nazareth, currently in South Africa. She worked for many years in Zimbabwe, serving people living a squatter camp outside Harare. In 2005 the government demolished their homes and markets stalls, leaving thousands of elderly people and orphaned children destitute. She said: " The Sisters set an early child development centre for children under five, where 540 children receive a hot lunch every day as well as a primary and secondary school. Through the trust, John Wilkins helped provide us with much needed facilities, including toilets and a kitchen."

Jo Siedlecka writes: "I worked for John at the Tablet as a freelancer for a few years. He was always encouraging and positive. He loved his work and certainly wasn't a nine to fiver - sometimes ringing very late at night before deadline days when he had a query or idea about something he wanted to discuss. As time went by I also felt able to call him at any hour if I had a query, or something I wanted to ask him about. He was always pleased to hear from me.

John was also my go-to advisor on birds. On a few occasions I sent him sound recordings or pictures of mystery birds from wherever I was and he was nearly always able to identify them.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory."

John's funeral will take place at 11am on 7th June at Holy Apostles, 22 Winchester Street, Pimlico, SW1V 4NZ. The service will also be livestreamed and recorded. See: www.holyapostlespimlico.org/index.php/live/