He was appointed curate at Bush Hill Park in Enfield before becoming priest in charge at a parish in New Milton, Hampshire. Mr Shillaker was married to his wife, Christine, for 59 years and they had a son, Mark, and daughters, Frances and Mary, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In 1969 the family moved to Chelmsford where he served the parish of St Luke’s on Moulsham Lodge. Sixteen years later they moved again, to Colchester where he took charge of the combined parish of the former parishes of St Leonard-at-the-Hythe, St Mary Magdalen and St Stephen’s. He was instrumental in beginning the much-needed renewal of the church buildings at St Stephen’s.