Gordon Charles Pamment, my father, died suddenly January 20, 2010. Born January 8, 1931, in Edmonton, Middlesex, he had been a vicar, first in England then in the Republic of Ireland.
He had attended Trinity College, Dublin, from 1950 to 1954. From 1954 to 1956 he completed two years of National Service in 46 Company RASC (coincidentally, his father Charles Francis Pamment had served in the RASC during World War II). From there Gordon went to Lincoln Theological College (1956 – 1958), graduating in 1958 and earning his first curacy at Hemel Hempstead. He married Jean Althea Green in 1960. His first parish was at Holbeach Hurn in Lincolnshire, followed by Whaplode Drove also in Lincolnshire. In 1965 Gordon took his family (by then he and Jean had three daughters) to the Republic of Ireland where he was installed in Inniscarra Union of Parishes in December 1965. In 1971 he moved to the Rathcormac Union of Parishes, which was merged into the Fermoy Union of Parishes in 1980. He served the Fermoy Union of Parishes until 1990 when he retired due to ill health. He devoted his retirement to his family which had grown by three more children.
Gordon was the youngest of three children born to Charles Francis Pamment and Ada Florence Taylor. His oldest sibling, Edward Henry Pamment died in 1987. His sister, Vera Pamment died in 2011.
I came across your e mail for the obituary for Gordon whilst typing in names of people who han influenced me in life . Gordon conducted my marriage service at Holbeach Hurn on 13th (yes- the 13th – not superstitious!) April 1963 to John Foskew.
Gordon was not only our parish priest , he and Jean were good friends and guides to my parents, Arthur and Lilian Huskinson. My father had suffered ill health for many years. He and mother were poor by the material standards of those days and yet they were rich in spirit,hospitable and encouraged greatly by Gordon. He inspired them and encouraged them to keep right on. Father was his churchwarden ( for 37 years at St.Lukes-until he retired) and I believe Gordon was, in turn, encouraged by their faith and steadfastness to God and to the church.
Jean and Gordon gave hospitality to John and to his Best Man on the eve of our wedding. Jean was often not in good health and Gordon administered not only church duties but domestic duties too.
I am grateful to you for having published Gordon’s obituary notice. As we grow older we think back and remember, with gratitude, those who showed kindness, love and charity to ourselves and to others.
Sally
Thank you for your message, Sally. It’s interesting to hear from people who knew Dad early in his life. We took him to Holbeach Hurn about seven years ago to revisit his old parish – a trip down memory lane. kindest regards, Sue