Another dear friend who drifted in and out of my life: Leon Liddament, died peacefully aged 67 after a long struggle with lung cancer at his North Norfolk home. His work was known around the world and he had been invited to display at next month's Norwich Castle Museum's Art in Faith exhibition.
From a studio in Walsingham, where he had worked since 1966, he had followed the tradition of iconography using certain colours, techniques and materials, many dating from the times of the Ancient Egyptians. After British Railways closed Little Walsingham Station in 1964, it became an orthodox chapel. Its priest, Father David, who was a iconographer, passed on his skill to Leon, who had only planned to stay for a month - he stayed in Walsingham for the rest of his life.
Together, they also painted a large icon, the Mother of God of Walsingham, which hangs in the Roman Catholic Shrine at Walsingham. Many of his icons are in the United States and also in a number of Anglican churches in England.
A keen musician, who had played in military bands, he played the flute and clarinet and mouth-organ. His parents died about 20 years ago and he leaves an extended family of cousins and his life-long partner Silvie.
The Liturgy was at St Seraphim's Chapel, Little Walsingham on Thursday 9 September, his funeral service at the Church of Holy Transfiguration, Great Walsingham, then Leon was buried at St Peter's Church.
