St John’s tribute to Reverend Ivor Dowse

Ivor grew up in Winchester, it was not an easy childhood, but his grandmother, who lived in Nun’s Walk in Winchester laid the foundations of his faith, and he trained for ministry at St Deiniol’s in Wales. In 2020 Ivor celebrated 50 years as a priest. In those years he served in Wales and the diocese of London, York, St Alban’s, Portsmouth, Truro, Argyll and of course Winchester, where he was an Honorary Chaplain at the Cathedral and assistant Chaplain at St John’s.

Ivor was a great reader and he was especially interested in history. He wrote a few books including, The Pilgrim Shrines of Scotland and one of England , as well as a history of his old school, Ealing College. He enjoyed travelling to many holy places such as Iona and Gozo.  

Ivor also had an extensive collection of detective DVD’s which he enjoyed from Midsummer Murders to Morse and Foyle’s War to Miss Marple’s.

Ivor was one of St John’s great character’s with gentle sense of humour and a warm face that could break in to a lovely smile.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Below is a poem written about Ivor by one of St John’s Almshouses carers, Penny Parker.

Just Ivor

Ivor was a man of the cloth

And the people too.

Asked ‘shall I called you Reverend?’

He replied, ‘Just Ivor will do’.

Just Ivor with his impish smile

And wispy white hair.

Just Ivor a glimpse of the man

Always dressed in formal wear.

Just Ivor, the gossip authority:

Always got it true.

Knowing exactly what was what

Knowing exactly who was who.

Just Ivor, who’s voice shook the pews

With the stories he’d tell.

In spite of his hearty demeanor

He’d insist ‘I’m not very well.’

Just Ivor, with his passion for books,

Especially ones on crime

He’d interrupted ‘Poirot’ himself

Coughing through his dinner speech one time.

Just Ivor with his milky tea

Pen poised in hand:

Perfectly penned prolific letters

Sent far and wide across the land.

Just Ivor, who loved iced lattes,

Tea cake (cut in half)

That he brought from Marks & Spencer’s

Where he was known by all the staff.

To us you were not just Ivor

How we’ll miss this man.

Once met never forgotten.

Dismissed

With a kiss

On the hand