PARISHIONERS at St Leonard's Church, Padiham, have said their farewells and expressed their best wishes to the vicar, Canon Jim Duxbury, who has retired.

Canon Duxbury, 67, and his wife Patricia, are moving to Clitheroe after being at St Leonard's for 15 years.

Originally from Carlisle, Canon Duxbury moved to Padiham from Telford New Town in Shropshire. Before that he had served in parishes in Southport, a village near Stoke and the centre of West Bromwich.

He was made an honorary canon of Blackburn Cathedral in 1997 and has been a member of the General Synod for 20 years. He has been chairman of the Blackburn Diocesan Property Committee for three years and has been closely connected with the governing bodies of local schools.

A keen Rotarian, he will now be joining the Rotary Club of Clitheroe.

Mrs Duxbury recently retired from teaching at Habergham High School, Burnley.