A packed and full-throated congregation of family, colleagues and friends of Rev Dr Richard Turnbull (who died on 26 November 2025) gathered at his funeral service at St Mary Magdalene, Woodstock on a very wet Friday 18 December.
Richard had known for some weeks that the recurrence of his breast cancer was terminal. His mother had died from the same condition when he was 18. He had carefully planned the details of the service.
Three tributes were given which between them brought out a different side to Richard from that which some had experienced on occasion in his professional life.
Dr Barry Evans, a retired consultant physician, a friend for over 50 years, spoke first. He and Richard had met at a South London Baptist church where Richard, who had qualified first as an accountant, was the treasurer. Richard lodged for a while in Barry and Gwen’s home, where their five-year-old son David knew him as “the man living next door to the bathroom.”
Dr Evans recalled Richard’s enthusiasm for Mrs Thatcher’s economics and noted that he reset the dials on economics and the Christian faith. On one visit he asked Richard if he could bring a copy of The Guardian into the house and Richard replied: “Bring it in as long as you take it away with you.”
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