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Ewart Frederick Bertram Helyar was called into the presence of the Lord just five days short of his 80th ‘spiritual birthday’.

Born in 1920 in South East London and unable to continue his schooling following the sudden death of his mother when he was 14, he went to live with his grandparents in East Coker, near Yeovil. His grandmother was a Christian and encouraged him to attend the local church. He started going to a boys’ Crusader Class and in 1938 he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, under the preaching of Captain Reginald Wallis. During World War II he served in Yeovil in the bomb disposal unit of the Home Guard, being in a reserved occupation with Westland Aircraft.

On 24 July, Dr Kathleen Berger was called home aged 98.

Kathleen Berger trained as a doctor and entered the Army in WWII, rising to the rank of Captain. When she was demobbed she joined the Bermondsey Medical Mission. After the war, new housing estates were built in the London suburbs and people were moved out. With no GP practices in the area, people would walk miles back into Bermondsey. In 1950, Dr Berger was asked to become the family doctor to the Coppice Estate in Petts Wood, south east London.

Michael Rees, with his welcoming smile, will be remembered by generations of Cambridge students as the vicar of Holy Trinity Church (1972 –1984).

Michael stayed close to the CICCU, and after the Sunday evening service dispersed, the CICCU would take over the building for its weekly evangelistic address.

Sam Berry came to faith in Christ through Iwerne camps, while at Shrewsbury School. From his Cambridge days as an undergraduate in natural sciences, he took a clear stand as a Christian, arguing that a model of evolution should not hinder a belief in a Creator.

In 1975 he published his first book, Adam and the Ape. From here he became known as a leading apologist for theistic evolution. In 1974, he had been appointed as Professor of Genetics at University College London, a chair he would hold until 2000. The tribute from UCL described him as ‘a massive figure in evolutionary and ecological genetics, biodiversity and conservation biology’ and noted his Christian faith. Sam was a man of immense output. His books included academic titles in biological science and Christian apologetics. He was generous with his time, accepting many speaking engagements, and lending his name and presence to a range of initiatives in the area of ecology. While eminent in his field, he wore his achievement lightly.

Dick Saunders, international ‘crusade’ and radio evangelist, Bible teacher and pastor, died 19 January, 2018 aged 87.

Richard (‘Dick’) Stephen Saunders was born in Hailsham, East Sussex, on 16 July, 1930, the son of a Strict Baptist lay-pastor, Alfred Saunders. He grew up surrounded by the prayers and godly example of his parents, and trusted Christ as his own Saviour at the age of 18. Soon after his conversion he married Betty (née Thomas).