Bill Skelton's father, a descendant of the 8th Duke of Somerset, was a garden designer who died when Skelton was 15 and the remainder of his time at Blundell's was financed by relations.
13 Facts About Bill Skelton
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On 4 November 1944, Bill Skelton manoeuvred Burbridge so skilfully on to his German targets that the pair shot down two Ju 88 night fighters; they then craftily joined enemy aircraft circling the Bonn-Hangelar airfield and claimed a Bf 110 and another Ju 88.
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Bill Skelton read history and theology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and came under the influence of Launcelot Fleming, the Dean, a distinguished Royal Navy chaplain during the war and later Bishop of Norwich.
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From 1950 to 1952, Bill Skelton was a curate at Ormskirk, Lancashire, then returned to Cambridge as chaplain of Clare College.
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Bill Skelton shared in devising one of the early new ways of celebrating the Eucharist, and in the re-ordering of the College chapel to make this possible.
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From 1959 to 1969, Bill Skelton was rector of the large parish of Bermondsey where, aided by four curates, he carried out a vigorous pastoral ministry, with much civic involvement throughout the area.
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Bill Skelton brought to this work the same meticulous approach that had characterised his wartime exploits.
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Two years later Bill Skelton was appointed rural dean of Bermondsey.
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Stockwood tried, but failed, to persuade him to become suffragan Bishop of Kingston-upon-Thames, and later Bill Skelton declined the offer of the Bishopric of Liverpool.
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On his recovery, Bill Skelton decided not to return to the direct service of the Church, and became director of the Lambeth Endowed Charities.
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Bill Skelton became involved in the charitable work of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, of which he was a Liveryman for many years.
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Bill Skelton served as Master in 1985, and was associated with St Botolph's Church, Aldgate, which provided him with a spiritual home in retirement.
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Bill Skelton was unmarried; but for the last 21 years of his life he found emotional fulfilment with his close friend Christopher Eldridge.