19/05/2008
Presenter Priest Dies
BBC presenter Father John Fitzsimmons has died at the age of 68.
The retired Roman Catholic priest Fr John Fitzsimmons died at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on Saturday. He had been suffering from a long illness.
Fr Fitzsimmons, from Gourock, had continued until recently presenting on BBC Radio Scotland's The Greetings programme on Sunday mornings.
He was ordained into the priesthood in 1963 and served as a curate at St John Bosco Church in Erskine.
Fr Jim Byers, spokesman for Paisley Diocese said that Fr Fitzsimmons "was a real character" who was "well known and well-loved".
Fr Byers added that he could "sometimes be a thorn in the side of the hierarchy" as he had "very strong views on the church".
Fr Fitzimmons defended his views saying: "I'm not some heretical priest. I'm just a man who thinks."
A statement on the BBC website said: "He was a man of wit, learning, humour and humanity and broadcast on BBC Scotland radio and television for nearly 40 years. A regular contributor on Thought for the Day, he also presented many radio programmes for BBC Religion and took part in dozens of news and documentary broadcasts over the years. He will be deeply missed."
BBC Scotland's Head of Programmes, Maggie Cunningham paid tribute to Fr Fitzimmons and said: "He was a big man with a big personality, erudite and compassionate, and anybody who met or worked with Father John would benefit from his life-enhancing qualities."
It is expected that Fr Fitzsimmons funeral will take place on Wednesday at St Ninian's.
A special programme which Fr Fitzimmons recorded last year will be broadcast this Sunday on BBC Scotland.
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The retired Roman Catholic priest Fr John Fitzsimmons died at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on Saturday. He had been suffering from a long illness.
Fr Fitzsimmons, from Gourock, had continued until recently presenting on BBC Radio Scotland's The Greetings programme on Sunday mornings.
He was ordained into the priesthood in 1963 and served as a curate at St John Bosco Church in Erskine.
Fr Jim Byers, spokesman for Paisley Diocese said that Fr Fitzsimmons "was a real character" who was "well known and well-loved".
Fr Byers added that he could "sometimes be a thorn in the side of the hierarchy" as he had "very strong views on the church".
Fr Fitzimmons defended his views saying: "I'm not some heretical priest. I'm just a man who thinks."
A statement on the BBC website said: "He was a man of wit, learning, humour and humanity and broadcast on BBC Scotland radio and television for nearly 40 years. A regular contributor on Thought for the Day, he also presented many radio programmes for BBC Religion and took part in dozens of news and documentary broadcasts over the years. He will be deeply missed."
BBC Scotland's Head of Programmes, Maggie Cunningham paid tribute to Fr Fitzimmons and said: "He was a big man with a big personality, erudite and compassionate, and anybody who met or worked with Father John would benefit from his life-enhancing qualities."
It is expected that Fr Fitzsimmons funeral will take place on Wednesday at St Ninian's.
A special programme which Fr Fitzimmons recorded last year will be broadcast this Sunday on BBC Scotland.
(DS)
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