A popular retired priest has died in a Redcar care home after being in ill-health for some months. He was 86.

Monsignor John Heslin was a well-known figure in Saltburn’s town centre and lived in Garnet Street for nearly 20 years after retiring.

Known as Father John, he was a “Father Christmas” figure with a strong white beard. He chuckled and chatted his way along the 200 yards from his terraced home to the town centre.

He usually “held court” on the bench, opposite Sainsbury’s entrance, giving his opinion on affairs. He was a wise man, well-respected by many in Saltburn. He also celebrated Mass at Catholic churches in the area when parish priests were not available.

Father John was ordained on February 21 1959 and his first parish appointment was at Sacred Heart in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, where he served from 1959 to 1965. 

He was next appointed to St Michael and the Holy Angels in West Bromwich from 1965 to 1968. 

From there, he was appointed to the Diocesan Youth Council at Soli House from 1968 to 1976. 

Father John was appointed parish priest of St Patrick’s in Stafford in 1976 and remained there until his retirement in 2000.

He was also a chaplain to the town’s jail and several ex-prisoners kept in touch by phone with him, seeking his advice.

His holidays were spent on cruises to Hawaii, where the leprosy island of Molokai can be found. He relieved the Molokai-based priest for a few weeks. His hero was Father Damien, the “lepers’ priest”.

A personal touch he mentioned once was that he knew he talked at length about his faith during homilies. 

His mother had a system of scratching the outside of her nose in church to indicate he had spoken for 15 minutes. 

Once at Saltburn he admitted he had talked for too long (probably about leprosy) and joked that listeners were excused his next homily.

Father John moved to Saltburn because his sister, Elizabeth, and her family lived in the town when he arrived. He often said Mass in his small first-floor chapel at his terraced home.

His funeral will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Saltburn, on Monday February 28 at 11.30am.

Bishop Stephen Wright will be present to represent the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

We pray for Father John’s family, friends, former parishioners and all those who mourn him. May he rest in peace.

Michael Morrissey