THE Rev John Dalby, vicar of Clapham with Keasden and Austwick, died last Thursday - six days after celebrating his 60th birthday on Good Friday.

Rev Dalby had been priest in charge of Austwick for seven years before becoming vicar of Clapham and Austwick in 1985.

During his 25 years in the parish, he had seen a significant increase in the size of its congregations.

Lesley Crutchley, headteacher at Austwick Church of England Primary School, paid tribute to Mr Dalby. She said: "He was the most humble, caring man who had time for everybody.

"He had a total devotion and love for children - he had eight children himself - and the children at school absolutely loved him.

"He came in to school most days and saw it as the centre of the village. We are going to feel lost without him."

At Clapham Primary School, where Mr Dalby was a governor, headteacher Shena Minnitt said the community had been shaken by his sudden death.

"John Dalby was a very dear friend to all of us in school. He cheered us up, he supported us, he valued everyone and gave us the benefit of his wisdom when we had decisions to make.

"We will all miss him immensely, but our loss must surely be small compared to the loss his family is experiencing."

Clapham churchwarden Liz Mason described Mr Dalby as a down-to-earth and compassionate man who really got stuck into the community.

"Of farming stock himself he was very much at home with rural ministry and he was very well loved and respected by people here both inside and outside the church," she said.

Playwright Alan Bennett, who has a home in Clapham, added: "He was a lovely, straightforward and conscientious man. He was often very jokey and I was always pleased to see him.

"I have to say, he was so much part of the landscape that I'd always imagined him burying me.

"He was quite literally down-to-earth. I remember when my mother's ashes were to be buried in my father's grave he dug the hole for the casket himself."

Mr Dalby was known as a straight speaking Yorkshireman and a great campaigner.

He campaigned strongly against the proposal for the Aire Valley motorway and was one of the first people in the diocese to stand against the 1992 vote for the ordination of women.

For many years he was the diocesan secretary for Forward in Faith, the movement that opposes the priesthood of women.

Before training for the ministry at Cuddesdon College, Oxford, Mr Dalby had been a farmer and a teacher of English in secondary schools in Bradford. He was also known for his passion for birdwatching and cricket.

Rev Ralph Crowe, who had known him for many years, and who will take his funeral, said: "He often bucked the trend and whenever he spoke at Diocesan Synod you listened because you knew he'd have something relevant to say. There are so many of us who are going to miss him terribly."

Mr Dalby leaves his wife, Lesley, and their eight children whose ages range from 18 to 33. His funeral was due to take place yesterday (Thursday) at Austwick Parish Church.