John Fitzsimmons

The Reverend John Fitzsimmons (born Paisley 2 December 1939 - died Gourock 17 May 2008) was a Scottish Roman Catholic priest and radio presenter who presented The Greetings radio program on BBC Radio Scotland for many years.^[1]

John Fitzsimmons was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, in 1939.^[1] He was ordained priest of the Diocese of Paisley in Rome in 1963.^[1] Involved in broadcasting for more than 40 years, ^[1] he had also served as the rector of the Pontifical Scots College in Rome.^[1] In addition to his work at BBC Scotland, Fitzsimmons was known for his sometimes controversial criticisms of the Catholic Church hierarchy.^[1]

After a long illness, John Fitzsimmons died in his sixty ninth year on 17 May 2008, in Gourock. ^[1] Maggie Cunningham, the director of programmes for BBC Scotland, said of Fitzsimmons, "He was a big man with a big personality, erudite and compassionate, and anybody who met or worked with Father John would benefit from his life-enhancing qualities."^[1]

References

External links

• Father John Fitzsimmons, The Scotsman
• Father John Fitzsimmons, Outspoken and scholarly Scottish priest popular with his parishioners but often at loggerheads with his superiors, obituary, The Times
• , obituary, The Herald
• , an appreciation, The Herald