Obituary for Rev. Brian Gadd

In Memory of Rev. Brian Gadd. Funeral details are included at the end of the post.
Rev. Brian Hayward Gadd, 88, passed away peacefully on the 12th of January 2022 at Kidderminster hospital after an extended illness. The family would like to offer their thanks to the staff of the NHS who took care of him during this challenging period.

Brian was a beloved husband to Margaret, much-loved father to Nick, father-in-law to Beth MacFadyen Gadd, brother to Jo, grandfather to Emma Grace Gadd and Joey Gadd and uncle to Chris, Kerry Gadd Townley-Smith, Rob Cox, Simon Gadd and Victoria. 

A teacher at Lacon Childe School in Cleobury Mortimer from 1956 to 1985, he touched the lives of many people. Mr. Gadd was well known for his pipe in earlier years, including an incident during which his jacket caught fire in class. He loved teaching, he directed and acted in plays (Capt. Mainwaring!), ran chess club, and many other academic and non-academic activities. 

Brian became a Lay Reader in the Church of England, then a Deacon and was eventually Ordained Priest in 1987. Brian derived great joy from serving his community in his kind, humble and caring way. He performed many christenings, marriages and funerals for family, friends, former students, and local people alike, always with patience, care, and consideration for those involved.

Brian was an enthusiastic bellringer for many years, and often had the calloused hands to prove it. He always enjoyed hearing the bells of St. Mary’s ringing in his later years. Brian also was a lifelong Mason.

Brian loved the Shropshire countryside and walking his dogs over the years. He was a very intelligent and quietly intellectual person, a voracious reader of many things ranging from the Greek classics to histories and a good murder mystery. There were few subjects that he could not converse intelligently about. A true renaissance man.
In his later years, Brian found it progressively harder to get out and about but would be seen occasionally on a trip to the library on his scooter. The family would like to extend their thanks to all those individuals who assisted Brian and Margaret during those times.

The funeral service will be held on the 3rd of February at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Cleobury Mortimer. There will be no service at the Crematorium in accordance with his wishes. There will also not be a wake following the service due to the ongoing presence of Covid-19 in our community. Family flowers only, and donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church in lieu of flowers.

Brian is at rest now. He lived a good life, often in the service of others. He will be sadly missed, but happily remembered.



The Gadd Family recorded in this Family Tree are the Ancestors and Descendants  of John Gadd (1805) and Anne Dewdney Gadd (married 1827). Their 10 children were Harriet (1827),  James (1829), William (1834), George (1834), Eliza (1837), Louisa (1839), Thomas (1842), John  (1843), Alfred (1847), and Mark (1849). 
 Their son William (1834-1888) married Mary Ann Middleton (1855-1888) and also had 9 children,  William (1857-1901), James (1860), Fredrick (1865-1933), Alfred (1867 - 1889), Frank(1870-1943),  Thomas 
 (1873), Henry (1875), Annie (1878) and Ellen (1882).
 Of this family, Frederick (1865-1933), William (1857-1901) and Alfred(1867 - 1889) went to New  Zealand, and Ellen went to Canada. The rest stayed in England around Malvern. Frank's children are the golfers, George (1890-1956), Charles (1892-1939), Reginald (1912-2004),  Albert (1909-2003) and Jack (1906-1968) all became professional golfers.  See  http://www.golfinggadds.com for their stories.
 Many of Frank and Kate's greatgrandchildren now live in England, Canada and the United States.  William and Fredrick's greatgrandchildren live in Australia and New Zealand. If you think you belong on this family tree please contact me with the details. There are still  many branches to fill in.