Father Gerard died on 3rd June, at St Joseph's, Hoghton (long known as Brindle Chapel), near Preston. He was nearly 69. Until within three weeks of his death he had appeared to be in ordinary health, but his heart was affected. The trouble developed quickly, and he became so seriously ill that remedies could only delay the end a little.
Father Gerard's parents, both converts to the Church, were from Devonshire, but had settled in Yorkshire, and the family was living at Ilkley in his youth. He was at a preparatory school at Ambleside, long since given up, and he went on to Ushaw with the thought of becoming a priest. But his diffidences caused him to relinquish the project, and he returned home. Though he was only two years at Ushaw he made life long friends there, and he always retained a pride in its great traditions. This very early break in his education was no doubt the cause in part of the difficulty Fr Gerard found in expressing his thoughts easily and adequately, in speech or in writing. This must have been a life long trial to Fr Gerard for he had a true admiration for all that is beautiful in nature or in literature.
The next ten years after leaving Ushaw were spent in various business occupations, but he never settled, and gradually he came to see that God was calling him to be a monk and a priest. He was accepted as a postulant at Ampleforth in 1904, and next year received the Benedictine Habit at Belmont. He returned to Ampleforth in 1908 and was ordained a Priest in 1913. In the following year he began at Warwick Bridge, Carlisle, his many years of work in one or other of the parishes served by Ampleforth.
At the Requiem and funeral of Fr Gerard a short account of his life and character was given by one of his brethren. They had been novices and had lived their early years together in the monastery, and later on were together at St Mary's, Warrington. It was from this intimate knowledge that the preacher could say that Fr Gerard was indeed a man of prayer, and could tell of his fidelity to his monastery and the monastic life, his really ungrudging obedience to superiors and his unworldliness; of his regularity in visiting his people, and of his gentle courtesy and kindness.
It was this last characteristic, so marked in Fr Gerard, which led to his being chosen by superiors several times to assist fathers whose age and failing health needed special care and consideration. At Grassendale he gave this service to Abbot Burge during the last few months of his life, and later to Abbot Cummins at Knaresborough for three years until his death. Fr Gerard was then appointed parish priest there, and after a time Fr Bluté was sent to be under the care which Fr Gerard gave him for his last year. In 1942, Fr Gerard was sent to Parbold, and in 1946 to St Joseph's, Hoghton, his last charge. Fr Elphege Hind whom he succeeded, lived on with him completely broken in health for his last days. No one who knew Fr Gerard could fail to see in him the charity and humility of a good priest.
JOSEPH GERARD BLACKMORE 3 June 1950
1881 28 Jul Born Bradford
1892-94 Educ Ushaw
Had a period in business
1905 3 Sep Habit
1906 8 Sep Simple Profession Belmont Prior Fowler
1909 6 Jan Solemn Vows Ampleforth Abbot Smith
21 Feb Minor Orders Ampleforth " "
1910 1 May Subdeacon Ampleforth
1911 25 May Deacon Ampleforth
1913 2 Mar Priest Ampleforth Bishop Lacy
1914 Assistant at Warwick Bridge
1917 17 Feb Assistant at Brownedge
1922 26 Jan Assistant at St Anne's Liverpool
1923 6 Oct Assistant at St Benedict's Warrington
1929 Feb Assistant at Grassendale
Sep Assistant at St Mary's Warrington
1933 Nov Assistant at Brownedge
1935 Sep Assistant at Knaresborough
1938 Nov Parish Priest at Knaresborough
1942 Apr Parish Priest at Parbold
1946 Sep Parish Priest at Brindle
1950 3 Jun Died at Brindle