A special Christmas Concert was held at Our Lady and St Edward’s Church, Driffield on 19th December 2008 to celebrate nearly 15 years of ministry of Fr David Hynes. Fr Hynes, aged 75, retired from the parish early in the New Year. Parishioners and well-wishers from the local community joined invited guests in a packed church for an evening of Christmas music and readings led by The Southwold Singers.

The Mayor of Driffield, Cllr Tony Cooper, presented Fr David with an inscribed commemorative plaque of the town’s coat of arms on behalf of the people of Driffield.

In a special address, parishioners thanked Fr David for all his endeavours to make the parish into ‘a cell of good living’ amidst the changing world in which we live. Attention was drawn to his success in fostering the growth of children’s catechist groups and sacramental preparation, increasing Church attendance, encouraging lay participation in the running of the parish and to his support for wider ecumenical engagements stemming from his own involvement in the Churches Together group in Driffield. Many memories and stories of Fr David’s kindness, humanity and generosity, as a regular home and hospital visitor, were shared over a glass of wine in the church hall after the concert.

Parishioners presented Fr David with a personal cheque for his retirement and with a framed parchment citing a special blessing from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.