And his considerable talents in public speaking and script writing followed him throughout his life up until his death last month aged 91.

Revd Canon Ivan Bailey (Image: Courtesy of family) Born in 1933 in Diss, he was the youngest son of Stanley and Ethel Bailey. He remained close to his brother, Richard, and together they attended a local church primary school before moving on to Diss Grammar.

His national service was spent as a sergeant in the Royal Army Educational Corps, where he taught and lectured on a diversity of subjects to men who were there because they had to be and did not necessarily want to learn.

Forced to adapt quickly, Revd Bailey learned the importance of being clear, relevant and - wherever possible - entertaining. It served him well in the years to come, both in the pulpit and in his later involvement with the media.

In 1954, he went to Keble College Oxford and rowed in its first eight. From there, he went to Saint Stephen House, a theological college in the catholic tradition.

His first curacy was at All Hallows Ipswich, before he began working for the Church of England Men’s Society, where he spent three years visiting almost every diocese.

Revd Canon Ivan Bailey (Image: Newsquest) His most successful venture however........

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