Rockin' Rev arrives in Felixstowe

Source: Diocese of East Anglia

Felixstowe Catholic Church's new deacon, David Croucher, hopes to bring a little bit of rock 'n' roll to his parish by the sea.

David, 78, whose stage name is 'Rockin' Rev', will split his time between helping the priest at St Felix's Church and entertaining local people with his electric guitar skills.

The retired pharmacist and his wife, Chris, moved to the town in July after five years in Diss, Norfolk, and are looking forward to settling in. "We have both fallen in love with Felixstowe. Our welcome has been amazing and local people are so friendly," he said.

David's love of music began in the 1960s when, aged 14, he heard The Shadows. He tried to build his own electric guitar, with mixed success, before his father bought him one as a reward for doing well in his school exams. He joined a schoolboy band and later, in the 1990s, played in an Ipswich band called The Windfalls, which performed music by his beloved Shadows, as well as rock 'n' roll and country and western hits. At one stage, he owned 20 guitars.

David said: "It's quite funny because people are often shocked when I tell them I am an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church!" He is already taking bookings for care homes in Felixstowe and is looking forward to spreading his personal gospel of brilliant 1960s sounds. Earlier this year, at a private event in Diss, he accompanied former Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana when she performed for family and friends.

David, a big fan of guitarists Hank Marvin and Duane Eddy, was born in Newport, South Wales, and trained to be a pharmacist at Cardiff University, where he met his future wife, who was working as a dental nurse. His first job was with Boots, and he worked at branches across the country before moving to the Isle of Wight to run his own pharmacy for 15 years until retirement.

His faith has always played a large part in his life, and he felt a calling to become a deacon, an ordained role that allows him to officiate at certain ceremonies in the Church. He was ordained at Portsmouth Cathedral in 2004.

Two years ago, while visiting Fatima in Portugal, the site of a Catholic shrine, he collapsed and underwent emergency surgery for a brain tumour. His three sons helped his wife while she stayed with him for four weeks in Lisbon. A second operation followed in Cambridge, and David hopes he will soon receive the all-clear.

David has no intention of stepping back from his role as a deacon. "I will continue until the Lord calls me. My retirement will be when they close the coffin lid over me!"