Open hearted and generous, Gus is remembered for his friendly personality and tireless enthusiasm for helping those in any kind of need.

Always ready to listen, he was equally prepared to give whatever help he could.

When still in his early teens he joined the De La Salle Brothers. He first came to Berkshire in 1950 to the Brothers’ study centre in Inglewood House, Kintbury, where he studies for two years before going to teach in a Brothers’ school in Malaysia. Do ill-health he returned after a few years to teach in this country. Again, his health failed, and his career underwent a radical change when he took responsibility for maintaining the grounds at St. Cassian’s, Kintbury.
​

It was while here, that over the years he built up an extensive network of friends from all walks of life. Undeterred by religious boundaries he wholeheartedly committed himself to Churches Together in Hungerford and Kintbury.
​

In 1970’s the De La Salle Brothers established a retreat centre for young people to come for short periods of prayer and reflection; students and their teachers were drawn from all over the country to participate in its programmes, in his spare moments, Gus would chat with them and give words of encouragement, promising to keep them in his prayers.

Local events, such as the Hungerford Carnival could rely on his enthusiastic support. Even when elderly he was willing to dress-up and take part in the “Churches Together” presentation of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. He was fun to have around and people loved him.
​
A great fun-raiser: thousands were raised by him over the years for a variety of charitable causes. His latest project was to provide facilities for the homeless in Newbury and through his contacts money came pouring in for West Berkshire Homeless – Newbury Area. He wasn’t just content to raise money: he attended meetings at unsociable hours and was ever-ready to do anything he could.
​

---