Anyone who has suffered bad depression, and has thought about Suicide, will want to honour this man for his work in the foundation of the Samaritans, a help line to the desparate.

Obituary
Revd. Dr. Edward Chad Varah, CH, CBE, MA Oxon.

     The Revd. Dr. Edward Chad Varah, founded the Samaritans in 1953, died in Basingstoke hospital on Thursday, 8th November, 2007, aged 95.  He also helped launch EAGLE in 1950.
       Chad was born on November 12, 1911, in Barton upon Humber, Lincolnshire, where his father was vicar of St Chad's Church. A scientist by instinct, Chad attended Worksop College where he did well academically, winning an Exhibition in Natural Sciences to Keble Col¬lege, Oxford. Switching to Politics, Philosophy and Economics, he graduated in 1933. Only after this did he feel able to pursue a career similar to his father's, and he then studied at Lincoln Theological College, where he was ordained in 1936.
   In 1942, two years after marrying Doris Susan (nee Whanslaw), Chad became rector of Holy Trinity, Blackburn. As editor of the Blackburn diocesan magazine The Crosier, he met the Revd. Marcus Morris, a Southport vicar and editor of The Anvil, to which he subsequently contributed. He was instrumental with Morris in setting up the Society for Christian Publicity and the EAGLE magazine. He has been described, alongside Morris and Hampson as "EAGLE's Third Man". We owe the science and technology bias seen in the 1950s EAGLEs to him alone: 'Professor Brittain Explains' especially; although suggesting to Marcus Morris that his proposed children's paper carry a science fiction story or two was most significant as the 'Dan Dare' character derives directly. His association as scriptwriter and visualiser with EAGLE and later Girl, lasted a little over a decade, until 1961.
    In 1953, as newly appointed rector to St. Stephen Walbrook in the City of London, he single-handedly founded the Samaritans, the telephone-for-help volunteer organization. The income from his "second career" as a writer and visualiser on EAGLE and Girl helped to fund the fledgling Samaritans, which is now established through the Befrienders network worldwide.
    He was awarded the OBE in 1969 and this was advanced to CBE in 1995. An honorary fellow of Keble College, Oxford, he received honorary doctorates from six British universities, and many international awards. He retired from his Samaritan offices at the age of 75. In 2001 his great contribution to human welfare was recognised by his appointment as a Companion of Honour in the Millenium Honours List. When, in 2003 and at the age of 92, he retired as rector of St Stephen Walbrook, he was the oldest incumbent in the Church of England.
    His wife, who was President of the Mothers' Union from 1970 to 1976, died in 1993. Chad is survived by his daughter and three of four sons. His eldest son predeceased him earlier this year.
    Always a supporter of Eagle Times and its activities, Chad will be remembered with fondness and great admiration by many Eaglers.
(By Will Grenham, with Howard Corn and Adrian Perkins. Editors of Eagle Times)

I had the great pleasure & honour to meet this charming genteleman in April 2000 at the Eagle 50th Anniversary weekend in Southport, and sat that the same table for dinner with him.

His work has saved many people from depression & suicide.

*SMILES*