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Members of the Association, especially those who attended the unforgettable Reunion of 1998, will be saddened on learning of the untimely death of Keith Jukes on 21 May 2013, aged 59. They will recall how he officiated at the magnificent Service in Selby Abbey, during which the second stage of the 578 Squadron Memorial was dedicated, with veterans reciting names of the 219 aircrew as recorded in the Book of Remembrance and also his ready participation at the lunch and grand public celebration which took place afterwards on Burn airfield.
Keith was born in 1954 and educated at Leeds University and Lincoln Theological College prior to becoming ordained and engaging on a progressive series of appointments, in which his dedication to the ministry and ability to teach and to reconcile were amply demonstrated.
In 1997 he was recruited by the Archbishop of York to bring peace and new life to the parish of Selby Abbey, where, as vicar, he proceeded to build up the congregation and develop fundraising skills to restore the magnificent building.
Fortunately, this was at a time when I was nearly at my wits end trying to interest the ecclesiastical authorities into granting permission to complete the final stages of our Memorial. With his arrival, encouragement and essential backing, not only was this enabled but he also cleared the way for me to create and hang the 578 Squadron Standard in the Quire, opposite to that of 51 Squadron.
Keith took great interest in 578 Squadron. It was plain to see that he was visibly moved by the first reading of names in 1998 and again in 2007 when he returned from his new incumbency of Ripon to conduct the third and final Service of Dedication.. After each of his annual 578 Reunion services in the Abbey he accompanied us to Selby Cemetery where three members of 578 aircrew lie. He asked for the loan of my sculptured bust of David Wilkerson in order to illustrate his talks to Abbey schoolchildren and others.
He was an entertaining and challenging preacher and with his other qualities a natural choice to become Dean of Ripon in 2007, where he quickly used his skills and sense of humour to great effect, one of which being his keen participation in the annual Shrove Tuesday race, where the sight of his impressive figure, resplendent in red cassock, tossing his pancake as he ran, was clearly seen as a blessing (or a Heaven-sent photo-opportunity) for onlookers.
Hugh Cawdron