68-yeard old church organist murdered on Christmas Eve

Two men, one on his 20’s and the other in his 40’s were arrested on suspicion of murder.

10:29 02 January 2013

It was something that nobody in High Green, Sheffield expected to happen on Christmas Eve. 68-yeard-old church organist, Alan Greaves was attacked while on his way to the church and died four hours after he was taken to the hospital.

 

The devout Anglican was due in his local church for the 11pm mass. Fifteen minutes later, he was found by a pizza delivery worker lying outside a primary school. Police officers suspect that the motive is either robbery or mistaken identity. He was rushed to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield but passed away four hours later.

Rev Canon Simon Bessant, who described Greaves as a gentle soul, said the community was deeply shocked. He added: ‘He was a good man and this was an evil act. It was a senseless, wicked attack.’
‘I don’t think he could have had an enemy in the world, he didn’t have a violent bone in his body.

Greave’s widow, Maureen, is having difficulty understanding and accepting the tragic event. She said: ‘We are bewildered and we are struggling to understand how this has happened,’ she said.
‘Alan was soft and caring and would have avoided confrontation at all costs.’
Maureen also talked about the last time he saw her husband. She narrated: ‘He put on his coat and hat and said “Bye love” as he always did, and they were the last words we spoke together. It’s completely tragic, I’m devastated. Our family are still in shock.’

Greave is survived by his wife and four children.