ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE
Fr John Michael Miller R.I.P.
Born in north London on 19 January 1923 and ordained to the priesthood on 30 May 1953 Fr John Miller was the fifteenth priest of the Diocese to be called to Heaven in 2020, and the oldest at 97 years of age. This obituary will be published in the 2021 edition of the Westminster Year Book.
John Miller was born and brought up in Finchley. He was educated at Finchley Catholic Grammar School until he was sixteen. Having left school John worked for Standard Telephones and Cables from 1939-41 when he took employment elsewhere until he began service with the Army in 1945. In 1949 John began formation for the priesthood as a student for the Diocese at St Edmund's College, Ware in Hertfordshire.
John was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Bernard William Griffin in Westminster Cathedral. Fr John's first appointment was to the parish of Our Lady Refuge of Sinners and St Catherine of Siena, Bow where he served as Assistant Priest from 1953-54 when he was appointed Assistant Priest at Our Lady Help of Christians, Kentish Town where he remained until 1966 and his appointment to St Lawrence, Feltham. Coupled with his duties as Assistant Priest, Fr John served as Chaplain to the local young offenders' prison and for two years he was the Hounslow Borough Commissioner for Scouts. His next appointment was Parish Priest at St Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs, Royston where he served from 1972-76. From 1976 to 1986 Fr John was Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph, Waltham Cross. Throughout this time he served as Dean of Lea Valley Deanery. He was then appointed Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Assumption, Potters Bar where he remained for thirteen years until his retirement from full time parish ministry in 1999 at the age of 76 having been asked to stay at Potters Bar to assist with changes to the organization of the parish. While at Potters Bar Fr John was appointed Dean in 1989 and during the period of the late Bishop Jim O'Brien's absence due to illness Fr John was asked to oversee pastoral life in Hertfordshire and be a point of reference for the clergy. He served as Secretary to the Senate (now Council) of Priests from 1983-91 while at Waltham Cross and Potters Bar. In retirement Fr John was called upon to supply in various parishes, covering for priests at times of holiday or sickness.
Link with the Scout Association
In addition to all Fr John's service with the Roman Catholic Church and in the wider community he was also a member of the Scout Association for some 35 years. Fr John's Adult Scout service began in 1941 when he became an Assistant Scout Master with the 7th Finchley Scout Troop on 29th April. He continued with the Troop becoming Scout Master on 22nd April 1943 until 17th November 1947. Also during this time he took on the role of Local Association Secretary for a year.
Following his Army service and becoming a Roman Catholic priest Fr John's second parish was in Kentish Town, St Pancras. Here he became Group Scout Master of the 14th St Pancras Group on 25th June 1955 and continued in that post until 14th February 1967.
When Fr John moved to Feltham in West London and he took on the role of Assistant District Commissioner on 10th May 1967 until 17th January 1968. He then became ADC (Leader Training) until 4th March 1970 when he took on the task of Borough Commissioner until 25th October 1972.
During this time Fr John joined the Greater London North West's Training Team as an Assistant Leader Trainer. He held this position from 12th March 1969 until 22nd October 1975. Fr John then became a Leader Trainer until 31st March 1985. He was also District Commissioner of Royston in Hertfordshire for 6 months in 1976. Fr John took on the role of Roman Catholic County Chaplain for GLNW from 1st September 1979 until 23rd July 1985. Fr John gained his Scout Wood Badge on 27th September 1944 and his Commissioner's Wood Badge on 10th December 1967. For his Service to Scouting Fr John was awarded the Long Service Award on 3rd April 1964, the Medal of Merit in April 1966 and the Silver Acorn on 1st April 1974.
Fr John was a good leader of people in his parishes, giving firm direction and with a common touch. He was respected by people of all ages and backgrounds, treating everyone equally and always ready to see situations from the others' perspective. He was easy company among friends, especially at meals that ended with a cigarette and, always in moderation, a glass of Crème de Menthe. Genial and with a good sense of humour, he never seemed to be unduly anxious or troubled. He was comfortable in his own skin. Cars and motor bikes were a passion of Fr John's. His presbytery kitchens doubled as workshops for repairs to his vehicles, cooking oil and motor oil sharing the same shelf! He was gifted at do-it-yourself jobs and solving problems both pastoral and mechanical. In his later years he came to depend on his electric mobility scooter and treasured the independence provided, and he treasured living independently in his flat provided by the Diocese on Oakleigh Road North in Whetstone. Fr John was a familiar figure in the local area, an area he loved. Visits to the shops for groceries and essentials such as the daily newspaper kept him going, as did the companionship of close friends. He had a special place in his heart for the parish of Waltham Cross, making known his desire for his Funeral Mass to take place there and his chalice to be gifted to the parish. In recent years Fr John's physical health began to deteriorate, but he remained strong-willed and determined to maintain his independence. His mind remained alert and his spirit lively.
Fr John died peacefully in Barnet Hospital on 25 October following admission earlier in the month.
May this faithful and long-serving priest rest in peace and rise in glory.
Fr John's Funeral Mass, 9 November 2020 at Waltham Cross with Bishop Paul McAleenan presiding.
Mgr Martin Hayes | Vicar General | Diocese of Westminster
This is to let you know that Eugene Gebler (1960-1967) died recently.
It is with great sadness that we have been informed of the death of Michael Anthony Hewson (Sammy) on 26th April, shortly after reaching his 100th birthday.
It is with great sadness that we have been informed of the death of Sir Hugh Rossi, a former pupil and Governor of the school.
He was MP for Hornsey/Hornsey and Wood Green 1966-92.
He died on 14th April 2020.
Dear Fathers, Deacons and Colleagues,
With sadness I write with news of the death earlier today, 7 April, of Fr John O'Halloran. Fr John died peacefully at home, in Nazareth House, Finchley.
Fr John was born in London on 11 September 1924 and Ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Westminster at St Joseph's, Wealdstone by Bishop George Craven on 29 June 1957.
Sympathy is extended to Fr John's family and friends, and to the Clergy and parishioners of his former parishes in the Diocese, to those who remember him from his years on the staff at Finchley High School, and to the Sisters and residents at Nazareth House.
Fr John was a member of the Deceased Clergy Association. Funeral arrangements will be made in accordance with the protocols necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Details of a Memorial Requiem Mass, and an obituary, will follow in due course.
We pray for the repose of Fr John's soul:
Lord Jesus, our Redeemer,
you willingly gave yourself up to death so that all people might be saved and pass from death into a new life.
Listen to our prayers, look with love on your people who mourn and pray for Fr John.
Lord Jesus, holy and compassionate, forgive his sins.
By dying you opened the gates of life for those who believe in you.
Do not let our brother be parted from you, but by your glorious power give him light, joy and peace in heaven where you live for ever and ever.
May the soul of this faithful Priest rest in peace. Amen.
The Diocese of Westminster
The Albanian association is the focus for our alumni. They have their own clubhouse in Summers Lane, have several football teams who play in local leagues, organise an annual dinner at the school and an annual commemorative mass for deceased members.
If you would like your email address added to our alumni database please email info@finchleycatholic.org.uk.
Many of our alumni are generous in both their financial contributions to the school and in contributing to events such as careers days. Many are very successful in their various fields but below are some of our notable former pupils:
Dom Aidan Bellenger, currently Abbot of Downside Abbey; former Head Master of Downside School
Declan Danaher, rugby player, back row London Irish
Tony Gallagher, former Editor of the Daily Telegraph
Giuliano Grazioli, former striker for Swindon Town and Barnet
John Griffin, co-founder of London-based minicabs company Addison Lee
Martin Ivens, Editor, The Sunday Times
Dennis Kelly, theatre and television writer
Fr. John McDonald, former chaplain to the Catholic Stage Guild
Damian McBride, former adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown; worked for a time as Business and Community Manager then for CAFOD
Seán Milligan, son of Spike Milligan (famous comedian, who as co-founder of the Finchley Society, helped to get the main school building its Grade II listing)
Paul Rincon, BBC News, broadcast journalist, specialist in science & technology
James Shea, AFC Wimbledon goalkeeper
Chas Smash, backing singer and dancer in British band Madness, also co-wrote one of their trademark hits, "Our House".
Finchley Grammar School
Derek Edwin Berry FRICS ATII, Company Secretary of Racal Electronics Limited
(1969 - 1986), Founding Director of Vodafone Ltd,
Prof Christopher Bliss, Nuffield Professor of International Economics from 1992-2007 at the University of Oxford, and brother of Jill Paton Walsh
James Bredin, former BBC news and documentary producer, Managing Director from
1964-82 of Border Television, and directed ITN's first broadcast in 1955
Kevin Burns CMG, High Commissioner to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean States from 1986–90, and to Ghana (concurrently Ambassador to Togo) from 1983-86
Air Vice-Marshal Robert Chapple CB, Principal Medical Officer of the RAF from 1991–94
Tony Chanmugam, Finance Director of BT since 2008
Sir Frank Claringbull, mineralogical crystallographer (who worked with Lawrence Bragg), Director of the Natural History Museum from 1968–76, President from 1965-7 of the Mineralogical Association, and President from 1972-90 of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain
Terry Forrestal, stuntman extraordinaire; former soldier
Sir John Hegarty, founder of global advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Jerry Lordan, composer of hits "Apache" and "Wonderful Land" for The Shadows
Prof David Luscombe, Professor of Medieval History from 1972-95 at the University of Sheffield
Troy Kennedy Martin, screenwriter; co-creator of 1960s British TV hit series Z-Cars, scripted 1960s classic The Italian Job
John Leslie Marshall, Conservative former MEP for London North and former mayor of Barnet London Borough Council
Eric Merriman, radio comedy writer
Lawrence Middleton CMG, Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 1986–90
Declan O'Farrell CBE, Chief Executive (1994–2003) of Metroline
Prof Patrick O'Sullivan OBE, Haden-Pilkington Professor of Environmental Design and Engineering at UCL
Nicholas J. Phillips, UK hologram pioneer
Sir Hugh Rossi, Conservative MP for Hornsey, then Hornsey and Wood Green, 1966–92
Prof Thomas Wiedemann, historian, former Professor of Latin from 1995-2001 at the University of Nottingham
A message from one of our past pupils