Ewart Frederick Bertram Helyar was called into the presence of the Lord just five days short of his 80th ‘spiritual birthday’.
Born in 1920 in South East London and unable to continue his schooling following the sudden death of his mother when he was 14, he went to live with his grandparents in East Coker, near Yeovil. His grandmother was a Christian and encouraged him to attend the local church. He started going to a boys’ Crusader Class and in 1938 he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, under the preaching of Captain Reginald Wallis. During World War II he served in Yeovil in the bomb disposal unit of the Home Guard, being in a reserved occupation with Westland Aircraft.
He became involved with the Young Life Campaigners, and eventually joined the staff of the Railway Mission. After a brief spell in Brighton, he became pastor of the Colchester branch where Ewart and his wife Ethelwyn ministered until 1959. In 1960 he became General Secretary, with the supervision of 25 branches. He developed strong links with the International Railway Mission, organising the International Conference. His position necessitated moves to Purley, then Watford and finally to Derby. In 1977 Ewart resigned from the Mission, largely due to Ethelwyn’s ill health and his own tiredness.
