A canon of Norwich Cathedral, who served as a priest at a host of Norfolk churches, has died aged 90.

The Rev Richard Page spent 20 years in parishes across Norfolk after returning to the county in 1971 to become vicar of Wells.

Born at Poringland, near Norwich, he went up to Gonville and Caius Colege, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1948 and was ordained two years later as deacon and then a priest the following year.

His first curacy was at Ecclesfield, Sheffield, before returning to the city as vicar of his first parish in 1964, having been chaplain at schools in Ramsgate, Kent, then Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and Northumberland.

He had been rural dean before moving to Norfolk as priest-in-charge of Holkham with Egmere and Waterden.

In 1972, he became rural dean for Burnham and Walsingham and then became vicar of St Mary's Church, Hemsby, in March 1978.

He remained there for five years until moving to Brooke with Kirstead as priest in charge – almost adjoining the parish where he had been born.

In 1985, he became rector of the parishes including Seething with Thwaite until he retired in 1990.

He was one of five clergymen who were appointed honorary canons of Norwich Cathedral by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Peter Nott, in February 1987. After retiring in 1990, he moved to Reepham, where he has lived for almost a quarter of a century. He leaves a widow, Sue, and three daughters, Sarah, Becky and Charlotte, and seven grandchildren. A son, Brinley, predeceased.

A funeral will be held at St Mary's Church, Reepham, on Saturday, January 4 at 12.30pm.

Michael Pollitt