The Rev Cecil Redgrave, who was a relation of Vanessa Redgrave, was born in Leamington in 1914 and had been a minister of the Church of England since the 1930s.

He studied theology at Oak Hill North London College and then trained to be a curate in Manchester during the Second World War where he met his wife Joan, now deceased, who was the local vicar's daughter.

After Manchester, he moved to Fairlight in Chicester and was there from 1940 to 1960 when he came to Leamington to serve as the vicar of St Mark's in the town until 1976.

His one-time church warden there, Harry Spooner, described him as "having an impelling way of getting people involved".

During his time there he encouraged a number groups to start up and the parish hall of St Saviour's was booked every day of the week.

He also oversaw a new kitchen there, the organ was revitalised with the console being brought down to a position behind the choir, the church was completely redecorated, the crumbling sandstone repaired and the church roof retiled.

On leaving in 1976, he then became the Rector of St Gregory's in Tredington and Darlingscott with Newbold until his retirement in 1982.

He retired to Kenilworth but remained an active retired clergyman leading many services at St John's Church on Warwick Road until 2007, when his failing eyesight meant he could no longer officiate.

Roger Turner, who was a vicar at the church from 1988 up until five years ago, said: "I knew Cecil for about 20 years. He was a much loved parish priest and he helped and supported me.

"He was very encouraging and such a good person. The love of God shone out of him, he had a lovely smile and he was a much loved preacher to the faithful."

Richard Dickson, a member of St John's Church, said: "He was very capable and even when his wife Joan died he was not averse to getting on a plane and going to Australia to visit his sister. He was still doing that even into his 90s."

He moved to Buckinghamshire to be nearer his daughter Christine, but developed cancer not long after moving there. He would have been 95 on March 8.

Mr Redgrave leaves two daughters, Christine, who lives in Great Missenden and Pamela who lives in Hampton-in-Arden and his sister in Australia.

The funeral will be held at St John's Church in Kenilworth on Thursday, March 12 at 2pm followed by tea.

No flowers, but donations can be made to Church Mission Society c/o John Taylor funeral service, Warwick Road, Kenilworth.