YOUR excellent short obituary on Leslie Skinner, who died earlier this month, could not fully portray this great man.

I knew him from an early age when he visited our house frequently where my father encouraged him to study for entry into the Methodist ministry.

He was a man of immense courage and his book 'The man who worked on Sundays', and his frequent TV interviews on the D Day Anniversary, illustrated his bravery. Although wounded on D Day he went on to care for the wounded and subsequently worked unceasingly over the crew of burnt-out tanks ensuring that the dead had a Christian burial and relatives were informed as gently as possible.

He was a great sportsman, playing centre forward for York Wednesday and had trials with York City. He combined skill with a ruthless approach to the game!

He rose to the highest rank available to chaplains, that of Lt Colonel, and was decorated by the governments of both France and Belgium.

He was kind, generous and always modest about his achievements. This son of York will be much missed.

Donald Fearnley,

Thorn Nook, York.

Updated: 11:41 Thursday, December 06, 2001