THERE were a few tears as Catholics young and old said goodbye to their popular parish priest Father Philip Dyson.

Fr Dyson has been in charge at St Augustine's in Weymouth for more than six years and is moving to the parish of Penzance and the Isles of Scilly in Cornwall.

Friends organised a farewell party and buffet at St Augustine's Primary School and presented Fr Dyson with a variety of gifts and cash.

A number of children attended and there was also representation from the Polish community.

Pictures of Fr Dyson taking part in church events were shown in a PowerPoint presentation including stills from a recent parish production based on the television programme Dad's Army in which Fr Dyson played Captain Mainwaring with great aplomb.

Fr Dyson is a popular and well-liked priest who has immersed himself in church and community life.

He chaired an action group to tackle the problem of homelessness in the Weymouth area and was a key figure in the campaign to support the Kachepa family who attended St Augustine's before they were ordered back to Malawi.

Fr Dyson's replacement is Fr Stephen Geddes from Newquay.