ONE man's battle with cancer has proved to be a moving and lasting tribute to the Rev Chris Myhill who documented his fight against the illness on the internet.

ONE man's battle with cancer has proved to be a moving and lasting tribute to the Rev Chris Myhill who documented his fight against the illness on the internet.

Mr Myhill, 55, was due to take up his new post at Stowmarket's town centre St Peter and St Mary's Church, but due to his illness was never able to and he died last week.

His move from Chatteris, Cambridgeshire to Stowmarket was to take up the vacancy left by disgraced vicar the Rev Trevor Jones was jailed for dishonesty in 2000.

His letters on the internet to parishioners offer a moving testimony to his faith, and provide a rare insight into one man's battle against the illness.

The vicar wrote graphically of his treatment, of his family's support, and of the support of the Chatteris community.

In June, after Mr Myhill's diagnosis, he told readers of his internet page: "Here at the vicarage there has not been a day when a card or letter have not been received, each with a personal message of encouragement, humour or faith.''

By August however, Mr Myhill was writing of how his chemotherapy "continues on schedule but takes its toll of energy. I am less tolerant of exercise and more lethargic".

He apologised to his readers: "Sorry to dwell on the clinical, but that's where the fight is at the moment and we look forward to making some inroads into the situation and some progress towards recovery.

"The Lord is good, we hope to have more positive news soon.''

Tragically, he was not to get better.

Mr Myhill leaves his wife, Val and children Matthew 18 and Jennifer, 20.