Fr. Short was inducted as Priest-in-Charge on 10th December 1974. The following August it was reported that he was recovering from a lung operation, but on January 2nd 1976 he died at the age of just 37. All Saints’ had been his first parish and the minutes of the P.C.C. record that “It is with sadness that we record the death of Father Robert Short who died on January 2nd 1976.” There followed one minute’s silence after which various tributes were given. Fr. Short – a gifted musician- had trained the choir and introduced a Saturday lunchtime Mass. He had also shared with the parish his life-long hobby – an enthusiasm for trams – and had given several talks on the subject. Born in Worcester, he had served curacies at Dudley and latterly at Putney. He was a kind and generous man and would be sorely missed.
All Saints' Church, South Wimbledon 