The family of Hatch End parish priest Father Clive Pearce who has died after more than 40 years in the role say he leaves a "wonderful legacy" and will be sorely missed.

The St Anselm's Parish Church priest, 75, died following a short illness on Saturday, March 26, at Northwick Park Hospital.

The keen linguist and scuba diver had been ordained for 49 years and was the parish priest of Hatch End for 43 years.

His daughter Amie said: "He was a much loved husband, brother, father and grandfather who had a big heart and a massive capacity for helping people through their troubles with great compassion offering both practical and spiritual support."

Father Clive said he knew he wanted to become a priest from the age of eight when he was growing up in the Fens.

After attending the Lampiter theological college in Wales, where he gained a BA in modern languages, Father Clive went on to be ordained at St Stephens House, Oxford University.

Father Clive and wife Yvonne then moved to London in 1968, living in Eastcote initially, then moving to Hatch End and settling in the vicarage in 1982, the home of the former Home Secretary Merlyn Rees.

He and Yvonne first met at secondary school and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this August.

Amie said: "With friends of all denominations, intellect and interests, he was easy to talk to and enjoyed a joke whilst devoting much of his time to evangelical work, supporting the sick and anxious.

"He counted the Jewish comedian Barry Cryer amongst his well-loved friends.

"He lived for his parish and was always inclusive. He would conclude many Sunday services by bidding all to 'have a drink out of a damp glass'.

"Chorister Rosemary Hill remembers fondly the way he always spoke a little Welsh to her with their shared love of the Welsh valleys. He would always say 'Corf Crist' - the body of Christ - at the Eucharist and would often raise a glass in his beloved Welsh with the phrase 'yaki-dah' meaning best wishes."

Among his many achievements later in life, Father Clive also gained an MA in Pastoral Liturgy from Heythrop College London in 2002.

He actively spoke many different languages and had a number of hobbies and interests.

He was a member of the Watford Diving Club, the Historical Diving Society and formerly the Harrow Sub Aqua Club and enjoyed diving in deep seas off the coast of Malta and the Red Sea just as well as the freezing depths of Blackwater Park or Stony Cove in Leicester.

Fellow divers would chant “Never dive with Clive” as they thought he would often go into a trance or seem to be meditating, but that was simply typical of the quiet, deep thinker that he was. He felt that “30’ below” was one of the few places you could obtain some peace.

Father Clive was known for saying “Sar Sum Cordia ala Calendonia” - Latin for beam me up Scottie.

He was installed by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, at the Prebendall Stall of Nesden, the ancient name for Neasden, at St Paul’s Cathedral on March 30, 2008.

He is survived by his wife Yvonne, his brother Michael, his four children, Edward, Elaine, Emily and Amie and his three grandchildren, Sebastian, Harriet and Ruby.

Amie added: "In what would have been his 76th year, Father Clive leaves a wonderful legacy and is sorely missed."

Father Clive's funeral will be held on Friday, April 15. Time to be confirmed.