Malcolm Williams qualified as a doctor at the London Hospital, where he met his wife Brenda. He spent the first half of his working life in general practice in Dartford, Harlow and Cliftonville, interspersed with service overseas as a District Medical Officer in Uganda (1964-70) and in Zambia (1977-78).

After ordination, Malcolm served a curacy at Holy Trinity in Margate and was then vicar of a number of parishes in England and a large parish in Zimbabwe, which included fourteen shona-speaking congregations. In every place that he worked he unstintingly gave of himself and his final two years as an assistant priest in Chipperfield and Sarratt were very happy ones. He and Brenda moved back to Cliftonville in January this year.

Medicine and Ordination were both vocations for Malcolm and in both his priority was always the person in front of him. His ability to set people at their ease meant it was easy to trust him. This approach to life seemed to equip him equally to work within an English culture or an African one. He had an unusual combination of personal humility with a quiet authority that came from a deep devotion to God.

Malcolm travelled lightly through life, holding very lightly to possessions. He was someone who knew how to give of himself and gave without counting the cost.

For the past 45 years his constant companion, friend and wife has been our mother Brenda. Words cannot adequately express our love and gratitude for her and the most extraordinary demonstration of love in her care for Malcolm.

(Extract from the tribute to Malcolm written by his children for the Service of Thanksgiving for his life held at St. Philip’s Church, Cliftonville on 11 March 2004)