Here is a selection of the tributes which the Diocese received following Bishop Kevin's death; in the on-line Book of Condolence nearly 500 tributes were entered.
To say we are devastated by +Kevin’s untimely death is a gross understatement. In the nearly four years we have known him he has been a wonderful friend: wise, cheerful, sensitive, kind, thoughtful and just plain loving. A lover of God and a lover of people. Whether we were praying together or playing golf together it was the same. He was the best kind of ecumenical partner but, way beyond that, the best kind of friend and fellow-follower of Jesus. If only we could have spent more time with him! As the whole diocese must be feeling just now, we can’t begin to believe he’s gone. We are praying with and for you all at this time.
Maggie and Tom Wright
Auckland Castle
Our class was very sad to hear the news that Bishop Kevin had died. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many friends.
Year 6 Green, Holy Cross RC Primary
Wallsend
Although we didn't know him personally we feel as if he was our close family. Not long after we moved to Gateshead he has a Mass in one of the parishes in Gateshead. When the Mass was ended and he was passing us he said "Dzien Dobry" which is "Good Afternoon" in our language (we are both Polish). Somehow he knew were Polish. He stopped us when we were leaving the church and spoke to us. We felt personally welcomed to this diocese by him. We will miss him very much.
Iwona Malinowska and Andrzej Rogalski,
Gateshead
It is with great sadness that we learn today of the passing away of Bishop Kevin. In The Salvation Army we call the passing of such a great man a Promotion to Glory. In the short time we knew Bishop Kevin we felt privileged to meet a man of God who displayed the likeness of Christ in his ordinary everyday life. He will be greatly missed by his family and we send our heartfelt prayers to them in these particular days of bereavement. We will always remember Bishop Kevin and pray God's comfort to his loved ones. Yours in His service.
Majors Melvin & Suzanne Fincham,
Newcastle
A true "gentle"man, genial, humorous, who made you feel as though you had known him for a long time. We remember him especially at the handing out of prizes to the winners of the diocesan annual Young Writers Competition each year; he made each prizewinner feel special, and happily posed for seemingly never ending photo shoots. Last year's celebration was held at St. Matthew's, Jarrow, and Bishop Kevin was to be spotted on the altar waving and playing peep-bo (surreptitiously) to a little tot in the front row.
We will miss him very much; may he rest in peace.
Frank & Mary Swales,
Jarrow (On behalf of Catholic Writers Guild, of which Bishop Kevin was Patron)
As President of the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, I would like to convey our sincere sympathy to the Provost and Chapter on the occasion of the sad death of Bishop Kevin Dunn. Bishop Kevin was a well respected member of the Society and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.
Mgr. David Hogan,
Middlesbrough
We knew Bishop Dunn as a priest at St. Patricks Walsall. In January 1976 we were the first couple that Fr. Kevin married. Over the years we have remained in contact with him and he always told everyone that we were his first wedding.
We were truly privileged to have known Bishop Dunn and his death will be a great loss to the Church.
We pray for his family and in particular his mother at this very sad time. May he rest in peace.Frances and Steve Onions,
Walsall
Tributes from Vatican | More tributes 1 | More tributes 2 | More tributes 3 | More tributes 4