A 94-YEAR-old vicar who has led weekly services of worship throughout the pandemic at the care home where he lives was given a special treat.

Staff at Castle View in Poundbury said thank you to Reverend Jim Cocke - the Church of England’s longest serving priest - by staging a musical performance.

Before he moved into the care home, Mr Cocke had been an ordained priest for more than 67 years in charge of All Saints', Headington, Oxford.

The pandemic restricted the scope for external church representatives to visit and hold services at the home, so Mr Cocke stepped in. He designs his services at the home as a weekly focal point for Bible reading, prayer, worship, hymns and discussions of seasonal topics and local and global issues.

Two friends working at the home formed a duo to perform specially for a ‘surprised and delighted’ Mr Cocke.

Companionship team member Lillie-Marie Harper and Jazmine Ball – a performing arts student at Chichester University who volunteers at the home – based their musical choices on his personal tastes interspersed with Shakespearian sonnets and lines from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Among the songs they performed was one of Mr Cocke's all-time favourites, Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World.

The show received an enthusiastic response from the man himself and fellow residents.

Mr Cocke said: “It was such a surprise. I very much enjoyed the afternoon.”

Jill Kember said: “I do so love the musicals and singing along is such a joy. Thank you so much.”

Companionship team leader Katja Williams said: “Week in, week out, Reverend Jim has led our Sunday services without fail for well over a year. He has given great comfort and peace to our residents ever since the first lockdown began.”

After watching the special show performed in his honour, Mr Cocke was presented with a bouquet of flowers by nurse Beverly Welsh.