Some here will recall the extraordinary red-cassocked clergyman who served for many years as Goodwood's chaplain, offering the circuit blessing at the beginning of each Revival Meeting and conducting a morning service in the paddock Memorial garden on the Sunday. He was Canon Lionel Webber - who sadly passed away, aged 85, on April 13.
Lionel was a lifelong motor racing enthusiast. He would confess that during his several years as a monk he would sit behind a pillar in the monastery chapel, reading 'Motor Sport' when he was meant to be meditating on perhaps higher matters. He became chaplain to the BRDC and proved immensely popular amongst the membership until relations became strained when he very naively sought ambitious funding to build a millennium belltower at his Basildon church. His years as a monk had hardly trained him in the ways of high finance, and while his belltower got built on time - and was dedicated in person by HM The Queen - he got into a terrible money muddle and the Club relationship evaporated - though many members and old friends steadfastly stood by him.
Goodwood remained a long-term supporter and his brand of engaging, entertaining, man-in-the-street devotion struck a memorable chord with many. He had been appointed one of the Queen's Chaplains - we were never sure whether it was because or in spite of his, ahem, unconventional religious approach...
Anyone present at his broadcast start-line blessing for the inaugural Goodwood Revival Meeting might recall his opening lines: "Ladies and gentlemen, God isn't in heaven right now. Instead, on this gloriously sunny Autumn day, he's right here with us at Goodwood.
"Or, if he isn't, he's crackers!".
Lionel was a tower of strength through dark times, and bright times. He was a truly extraordinary character - a hugely knowledgeable life-long racing enthusiast - and, as a truly capable clergyman should, he touched and enhanced many lives. Sincere condolences to his (long suffering) widow Jean, and to their daughter Anne and her husband Mike...and to everyone else who knew him.
On his 70th birthday (below) our 'turbulent priest' really thought he had already gone to heaven... God bless mate.
DCN
Edited by Doug Nye, 23 April 2021 - 09:16.