FATHER GERALD FLOOD Bth 30 April 1931 - 19 April 2020
Father Flood in October 2013 - Enjoying a trip in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee
during a pilgrimage with Father Victor and Holy Innocents Church, Orpington
during a pilgrimage with Father Victor and Holy Innocents Church, Orpington
Father Gerald Flood, Parish Priest of St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, Biggin Hill and Officiating RAF Roman Catholic Chaplain to St George's RAF Chapel died on 19th April 2020.
Father Gerald was a priest for over 60 years, celebrating his diamond jubilee of his ordination in May 2016. He came to Biggin Hill as Parish Priest at St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church in 1988, and was well known and much loved by the Biggin Hill Community.
He became an Officiating Chaplain to the Royal Air Force, serving RAF personnel on the station of RAF Biggin Hill. He said Mass every Sunday at St Raphael’s RC Church, adjacent to St George's Chapel. On the closure of RAF Biggin Hill, St Raphael's building became the Headquarters of 2427 Squadron (Biggin Hill)Air Training Corps.
Father was a very active gentle man, with a love for his vocation and the people he served. He could be described as a priest ‘of the old school’. Father had a very strong faith, he was a very wise and peaceful man but with strong views and someone willing to 'stand up and be counted' when the situation demanded. With a lovely sense of humour and a great store of good clever jokes, and with the funny side of his priestly experiences, he enjoyed amusing people. He was a wonderful raconteur.
Father studied for a degree in his late 70s and became a Bachelor of Theology, which was a remarkable achievement for an extremely busy parish priest at that age. He hardly had a day off, and even when he did, he would nearly always visit his brother, and being away in relative peace, from the presbytery telephone, he would catch up on numerous personal letters, from people requesting his advice.
He was a Friend of the Chapel and an ardent supporter of all it represented. When the station closed in 1992, he celebrated Mass in St George’s, every Saturday evening, until the its closure in September 2017. He attended and officiated with other RAF Chaplains, the ecumenical services held in the Chapel each year, namely the Friends of St George’s Chapel service on the Sunday closest to St George’s Day, the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, Battle of Britain Sunday, Remembrance Sunday and Nine lessons and Carols at Christmas. He also officiated at many personal services of Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes.
Father was very keen to continue to serve at the Chapel on its reopening, but sadly it was not to be.
In December 2018, he was taken ill and after a couple of stays in hospital, he finally took up residence in Coloma Care Home in West Wickham in May 2019.
Father delighted in visits from friends of his parish and always hoped he would return to his flock at Biggin Hill.
Requiescat in Pace.
Father Gerald was a priest for over 60 years, celebrating his diamond jubilee of his ordination in May 2016. He came to Biggin Hill as Parish Priest at St Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church in 1988, and was well known and much loved by the Biggin Hill Community.
He became an Officiating Chaplain to the Royal Air Force, serving RAF personnel on the station of RAF Biggin Hill. He said Mass every Sunday at St Raphael’s RC Church, adjacent to St George's Chapel. On the closure of RAF Biggin Hill, St Raphael's building became the Headquarters of 2427 Squadron (Biggin Hill)Air Training Corps.
Father was a very active gentle man, with a love for his vocation and the people he served. He could be described as a priest ‘of the old school’. Father had a very strong faith, he was a very wise and peaceful man but with strong views and someone willing to 'stand up and be counted' when the situation demanded. With a lovely sense of humour and a great store of good clever jokes, and with the funny side of his priestly experiences, he enjoyed amusing people. He was a wonderful raconteur.
Father studied for a degree in his late 70s and became a Bachelor of Theology, which was a remarkable achievement for an extremely busy parish priest at that age. He hardly had a day off, and even when he did, he would nearly always visit his brother, and being away in relative peace, from the presbytery telephone, he would catch up on numerous personal letters, from people requesting his advice.
He was a Friend of the Chapel and an ardent supporter of all it represented. When the station closed in 1992, he celebrated Mass in St George’s, every Saturday evening, until the its closure in September 2017. He attended and officiated with other RAF Chaplains, the ecumenical services held in the Chapel each year, namely the Friends of St George’s Chapel service on the Sunday closest to St George’s Day, the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, Battle of Britain Sunday, Remembrance Sunday and Nine lessons and Carols at Christmas. He also officiated at many personal services of Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes.
Father was very keen to continue to serve at the Chapel on its reopening, but sadly it was not to be.
In December 2018, he was taken ill and after a couple of stays in hospital, he finally took up residence in Coloma Care Home in West Wickham in May 2019.
Father delighted in visits from friends of his parish and always hoped he would return to his flock at Biggin Hill.
Requiescat in Pace.