TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a Roman Catholic priest by his Southampton parishioners on his departure to a new parish in Northern Ireland.

Last weekend, members of St Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Middle Road, Park Gate joined to say a sad farewell to their leader, Fr James Boyle, and expressed their feelings in the words inscribed on a plaque presented by one of the youngest parishioners.

The tribute read: "To Father James Boyle, thank you: for caring for us, for being there for us 24 hours a day, for being our friend, for learning our names, for teaching us how to use our talents, for enabling us to develop skills we didn't know we had, for showing us how to create a loving community, but most of all, for sharing your own life with us and being beside us through the ups and downs of our own lives. Your leaving is a sad day for us, but a blessed one for your new parish."

Jocelyn Jones, from the parish, said: "So many people wanted to share in the farewells for Fr James that it was necessary to organise two gatherings, with 200 people at each event."