Fond tributes to clergyman and actor swept away in flash flood

THE BISHOP of Wakefield has led tributes to a clergyman, actor, academic and devoted husband who died after his car was swept away by a flash flood in Ireland.

The Rev Roger Grainger, 82, who appeared in Emmerdale, Heartbeat and Last of The Summer Wine, was a few hundred yards from the cottage he had recently bought on Achill Island, Co Mayo, when he was washed off the road by a torrent on Sunday evening.

Dr Grainger, a retired Anglican cleric from Horbury, Wakefield, moved to Ireland last summer following the death of his wife Doreen in 2013. In his professional life, he had been a chaplain for mental health patients at Stanley Royd Hospital in Wakefield from 1973 to 1991, and was also a psychotherapist supporting people who had suffered trauma or emotional problems.

He was ordained in 1996, and served as a curate in West Bromwich and then Walsall before returning to Wakefield as an assistant priest at St John’s Church, and as an honorary chaplain at Wakefield Cathedral.

The Bishop of Wakefield, the Right Rev Tony Robinson, said: “Roger Grainger was one of life’s great characters – highly intelligent and very wide ranging in his gifts and skills. After training at Rada in London, Roger was an accomplished actor appearing at the Old Vic and on popular television programmes like Emmerdale and Heartbeat. Only last year he starred in a drama with Michael Palin called Remember Me.

“Writing books and studying academically was just part of Roger’s very busy life. Even in retirement he was beginning study towards his doctorate.”

The Rev Stephanie Buchanan, of St John’s Church, said Dr Grainger had made the “very brave” decision to move after the death of his wife.

She said: “They had very happy holidays together there and he felt very close to her there. We were absolutely amazed that he did it – it was a very brave decision to move there alone.”

Dr Grainger preached at St John’s, and also ran drama groups where people explored their faith.

“He very much felt St John’s was his church and saw it as a place where he belonged,” said Ms Buchanan. “He was a person of very deep faith, but not an easy faith. He had lots of challenge in life but found God in the tough places.

“He was also in touch with his own vulnerability and was good at asking for help when he needed it, especially after the death of his wife – though he surprised himself at how well he coped.

“Moving to Ireland was a positive, joyful decision.”

The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Rev Jonathan Greener said: “He was held with great affection by everybody here. He was an eccentric soul, but that added to his appeal in many ways. He knew what it was to be vulnerable and that meant people could sympathise with him, as he would with them.

“We were so distressed to hear not just of his death, but the tragic circumstances of it. He is very much is our thoughts and prayers.”

Since moving to Achill, local cleric the Rev Val Rogers said Dr Grainger had made his mark on the community.

“He was a most affectionate man and an utterly gregarious person,” the clergyman said. “He had a growing love and ended up with a full-blown love affair with Achill.”

Roger Grainger was one of life’s great characters Bishop of Wakefield Tony Robinson