Tributes have been paid to a vicar and Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral who “brought joy to all he met”.

Norman Woods, who lived in the city, died on May 8 aged 88 after a career spanning 60 years in churches and parishes around east Kent.

His funeral will be held at the famous place of worship and is expected to be attended by hundreds.

A dedicated preacher, he practised right up until his final weeks.

The vicar’s early life was spent in Wirral, Merseyside before studying at King’s College in London.

He was ordained in 1964 and served for five years at All Saints Poplar, before moving to St Alban’s in Portsmouth.

Norman then started his devoted post in Kent.

His neighbour and friend Keith Aikin told KentOnline: “From 1976 to 2001 he was Vicar of St Leonard’s Church in Hythe, where he began his very successful ministry to the people of east Kent.

“He threw himself wholeheartedly into a variety of church-related activities in the town including promoting the choir and the Cursillo spiritual movement in the diocese.”

He was made an Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral in 1991 and moved to the area with his retirement from St Leonard’s in 2001.

He was also appointed as assistant chaplain at King’s School.

Norman was a regularly visiting preacher at various local parishes, including St Stephens in Canterbury, Blean and Brook near Ashford.

Mr Aikin, friend of 23 years, added: “Norman was a person who brought joy to all the people he encountered in life.

“He believed that an important part of his Christian mission was to organise and lead pilgrimages.”

This took him to places such as Jordan, Turkey and Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Mr Aikin continued: “In his youth, he was a fine cricketer and rugby player, and was a life member of Kent Cricket Club.

“He spent many happy hours watching Kent play and talking to his many friends in the area.

“To his very end, he was a fantastical supporter of Liverpool F.C.”

Canterbury Cathedral also paid tribute, saying: “Norman loved the Cathedral.

“He and his wife Patsy worshipped in the twenty years or so of their retirement on Fridays either in the Dean’s Chapel or more recently in Our Lady Undercroft in the Crypt, which Norman always felt was a ‘thin place’ between heaven and earth.

“He also did a weekly voluntary Cathedral Chaplaincy for a couple of hours on a Monday. He will be greatly missed.”

A spokesman for the diocese added: “Norman was ordained priest in 1964 and came to Canterbury Diocese as Vicar of Hythe in 1976.

“He was also Area Dean of Elham (1983-1989) and was made an Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral in 1991.

“Since his retirement in 2001 he held PTO in our diocese and was a great support to many parishes.

”May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Canon Woods is survived by Patsy, whom he married in 1965 and was supported by wholeheartedly, his three daughters and his six grandchildren.

The funeral will take place at 2pm on May 29 in Canterbury Cathedral, and all are welcome.