Army chaplain who served with the Black Watch at the height of the Cold War. An appreciation
REV Tom Kelly, who has died aged 68, was a minister and former army chaplain who served with the Black Watch and the Scots Guards at the height of the Cold War. Later he was inducted to Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, which became dear to his heart.
He was born Thomas Alexander Davidson Kelly (TDK to his friends) in Edinburgh, the third of the three sons of Nevill and Molly Davidson Kelly. His brothers described him as being clumsy and short-sighted but a fiend at board and card games.
To his family, his future profession was indicated early on as, whenever a pet died, Tom would don his grandfather’s undergraduate St Andrews gown and a stole then, using a stick as crozier and wearing a mitre, he would conduct a full funeral service with hymns and prayers.
He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh, graduating MA in 1971 and BD in 1974. Having been licensed by the presbytery of Edinburgh on July 10, 1974 he served as assistant in Dundee St Mary’s until 1976. During his assistantship he was ordained by the presbytery of Dundee on April 10, 1975.
He was inducted to the charge of Kilberry linked with Tarbert on July 5, 1976. It was there that he met and fell in love with Kim McArthur, a member of his congregation. They were married in February, 1980 and together they ministered to the congregation until Tom was appointed chaplain by the Royal Army chaplain’s department in July, 1982.
At the memorial service in Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, his commanding officer, Sir Alister Irwin, said of him: “Very shortly after joining the battalion, he attended the inelegantly termed Vicars and Tarts course at Sandhurst in 1982.
"Here along with his fellow padres, medical officers, vets and lawyers he learnt the rudiments of soldiering in the field and did so with an out of the ordinary enthusiasm. His Sandhurst report said that he was weak on physical ability, average in appearance and military knowledge and good in intelligence, practical ability, powers of expression, zeal and energy, robustness and confidence. Quite a cocktail!"
In awarding an overall grading of "above standard required" his course instructor wrote: "The Reverend Davidson Kelly is a very likeable and forthright man who quickly earned the respect of the course for his enthusiasm and commitment. He has the ability to communicate and give out orders in a confident and easy manner.
"At the same time he has worked hard for his contemporaries and shown some good leadership qualities. Owing to these factors and his assured and caring manner, he should make an excellent soldiers' chaplain who will gain the respect of all in his unit. His military knowledge, skills and fitness are only average, but his efforts have been worthy of praise." To which the college commander added: "One of the best chaplains I have met during the last five courses at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.”
Mr Kelly was posted to the Black Watch based in West Germany at the height of the Cold War where very quickly the battalion gathered him and Kim into the bosom of the regimental family. Later Mr Kelly went with the battalion on a five-month unaccompanied tour of duty in West Belfast and then to Edinburgh. Just as the battalion was preparing to move to West Berlin, Mr Kelly was posted to the Scots Guards. In 1989 he and Kim returned to civilian life although Mr Kelly kept his links through service as chaplain to the Territorial Army in Perth and then to the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow from which he retired in 2014.
On June 22, 1989, Mr Kelly was inducted to Govan Old: a place of ancient worship which he served with great love and joy. As well as caring for the congregation and parish he researched and wrote about Govan Old’s history and fabric and took great delight in telling people all about the famous hogback stones. It was fitting that a photograph of the stones was printed in the Memorial Service Order. Unfortunately, Mr Kelly's health forced him to retire from the parish ministry in 2002 and he and Kim moved to Kilmarnock.
Mr Kelly’s interest in architecture was not restricted to Govan. He travelled from Aberdeen to South Africa researching and writing about the architectural work of Peter MacGregor Chalmers, Charles Carmichael and the poems of Charles Murray, presenting papers and lectures on them. Notwithstanding his continuing ill health and latterly his prostate cancer he continued researching and planning books right up to his death in Ayr Hospice.
Mr Kelly will always be remembered as one of life’s great characters: from his staff and “onion seller’s” beret to his impossible time-keeping which did improve with the discipline of the army. With his fine voice, he will be remembered for his love of music, playing the fiddle and his adoration of dogs.
Above all he was a man of deep faith with a great interest in liturgy and history who served his Lord and the Church with integrity and love. He was a wonderful, trustworthy friend who enjoyed company and laughter. He was a loving, caring husband and father to Neil, Campbell, Annie and the extended family. We pray that God will bless and comfort them and all who loved him.
COLIN GF BROCKIE
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