Canon William (Billy) Wynne, founder of the Samaritans in the Republic, who died on January 17th, aged 90, was a clergyman whose work helped to save and enhance many lives.
From the late 1950s until 1969 he worked as a Samaritan from the rectory in Monkstown, Co Dublin, combining it with his parish work. Gradually, friends and parishioners began to help out. In 1970, the Dublin branch of the Samaritans started in temporary premises in Kildare Street, with the help of Rev John F. Brennan SJ and Mr Vincent Grogan SC (Billy Wynne was a passionate believer in the ecumenical approach).
One of his other projects was the establishment of a Friendly Room in Knox Hall in Monkstown in the 1960s. It was a centre where people could meet, talk, listen to music, have tea or coffee and find friendliness and companionship, irrespective of their faith.
Billy Wynne was born into the church - his father was rector of Navan. He was educated at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen and Kingstown Grammar School before starting an apprenticeship at Drummond's Seed Shop in Dawson Street, Dublin at the age of 15 years.
Four years later he left the world of commerce for the ministry. He was ordained deacon, and became curate of Clontarf in 1944. In the same year he graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, and married May (Cecil) Collins of Dalkey, Co Dublin. He was ordained the following year.
As a clergyman he worked in Dublin and Wicklow. He is still remembered for his practice of telling his congregation now and then that he had nothing to say to them and that there would be no sermon. On one occasion he rode a bicycle up the aisle to illustrate a point he wanted to make.
For years he wrote a faith column in The Irish Times and a friend recalls the agonies he went through to get it right. Tragedy struck the family in 1974 when his brother, Owen, was killed by a bomb in Woolwich, England. Years later, he said in an interview that he had still not got over the sheer cruelty and the waste of his brother's death.
His last posting before his retirement in 1988 was to St Ann's in Dawson Street. There, his capacity to start projects to meet social needs flourished.
St Ann's Lifeline trained volunteers to deal with personal problems and to advise on issues such as state entitlement and housing eligibility. He also started a Friendly Room there, a Cancer Comfort Group, the Dawson Employment Bureau, a bereavement counselling service and a book centre. The church was also the headquarters of The Missions to Seamen.
He won a People of the Year award in 1983 and a Lord Mayor of Dublin's Millennium Award in 1988. He was a former prebendary of Dunlavin, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
He is survived by his wife Cecil and by their three sons John, Peter and Stephen.
Dr Richard William Maurice (Billy) Wynne: born 1919; died January, 2000