TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular priest who worked in parishes across Teesside and Yorkshire.

Father Norman Jacobson died on November 7 at the age of 67, following a long period of ill health.

Born in Boldon on February 13 1947, he was initially ordained into the Anglican ministry and worked in parishes throughout Teesside, including St Thomas’s, Brambles Farm, St Paul’s, Thornaby, and All Saints, in Middlesbrough town centre.

After entering the Roman Catholic Church, Father Norman studied at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in Surrey and was ordained for the Diocese of Middlesbrough in 1986.

His first placement was for three years at St Aelred’s, in York, followed by a further three years curacy at St Peter’s, Scarborough and in 1992 Father Norman was appointed University Chaplain at Hull.

In 2000, he became parish priest at the Sacred Heart parish in Northallerton, where he remained until 2007 and, in his final year, was appointed as the Dean for that area of the Diocese.

Until his death, Father Norman had been parish priest of St Anthony and Our Lady of Mercy, in Hull.

The Bishop of Middlesbrough, The Right Reverend Terence Patrick Drainey, and the local Dean, Father Michael Marsden prayed with him at his bedside before he died.

Vicar General Monsignor, Gerard Robinson, said Father Norman was appreciative of the support given to him during his sickness.

“In expressing our prayerful sympathy to Norman’s sister, his relatives and many friends, we recognise with gratitude the generous pastoral care he has shown to those entrusted to him over these last 28 years,” he explained.

“Father Norman was very happy in his post at Hull University as he had a natural ease with the students and young people generally.”

He added: “Perhaps it is not without some significance that he was called to the Lord on the feast of St Willibrord, patron of Hull University Chaplaincy.”

Father Norman will be received into St Anthony’s and Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hull tomorrow (Monday) at 6.30pm, for the Evening Prayer of the Church.

His Requiem Mass will be at 12.10pm on Tuesday, in St Charles Borromeo Church, followed by cremation.