Nobel Peace prizewinner Archbishop Desmond Tutu has visited Eastry for a special celebration at St Mary’s Church.

During the service he invited children in the congregation to give him a “high five” and invited a big round of applause after the sermon from the Dean of Canterbury the Very Rev Robert Willis.

The first black head of the Anglican Church in South Africa was in east Kent with his wife Leah as guests of Sally and David Williams from Tilmanstone, who were celebrating their ruby wedding.

Mr Williams said: “The idea of organising a special festive service for the benefice of Eastry, Northbourne and Tilmanstone initially sprung from the fact that we were to celebrate our anniversary on a Sunday.

“Desmond Tutu had been a curate at St Albans Golders Green from 1962 to 1965 where we were married.

“He had therefore known Sally from the age of 13 and had maintained contact.” Mrs Williams is a trustee of the Tutu Foundation UK and works in Westminster as chief executive of the Industry and Parliament Trust.

For more details of the Archbishop's visit see this week's East Kent Mercury.