We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of our former Chaplain, The Reverend Canon Ron Lloyd. Ron passed away on 29 May 2026 aged 94. He was Chaplain of St Hugh’s between 1975 and 1980.
His daughter, Catherine Foster, has written the following obituary:
“Born in the village of Penclawdd on the Gower Peninsular, Ron went to St. David’s College, Lampeter, after which he served his curacy in the parish of Swansea. In 1963, he became vicar of a parish in the Vale of Evesham, from where he moved in 1969 to become the Chaplain of the Dragon School. Oxford. It was during his time there that St. Hugh’s approached him, as they were looking for a chaplain whose main role would be a pastoral one as well as taking a Sunday service in chapel. He held this post until 1980.
He also held the position of Fellow’s Chaplain at Magdalen College, which meant singing Cantor with the choir at daily evensong.
Ron was renowned for his great preaching style, his lilting Welsh voice enhancing his sermons, which were always punctuated with a story to get his point across.
In 1981 he became Precentor at Christchurch Cathedral. After five years, he decided he would like to return to parish ministry and so for the final thirteen years, before retirement, he was vicar of the Shill Valley and Broadshire benefices, a group of beautiful country churches in West Oxfordshire.
In 2001 he retired and he and his wife Hazel moved to the village of Southrop near Lechlade, where they stayed until 2019, when Hazel’s health determined they should move to be nearer their daughter, Catherine, in Bampton. Hazel died soon after, but Ron enjoyed making new friends there and the ease of living close to family.
After a short illness Ron died peacefully on 29 May 2026.”
A Service of Thanksgiving for Ron’s life will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Bampton, Oxfordshire on Monday 6 July 2026 at 2.30pm.
