Fr Dunstan Pozzi died at Leeds on 20th August, and two days later (exactly fifty-two years since he entered Belmont Priory to become a Benedictine novice) he was laid to rest at Ampleforth Abbey. His age was 72. Amidst the mourners at the graveside in the Monks' Wood were seven members of his parish who had left Workington by car at 3 o'clock the same morning. Since that day Fr Abbot has received from people in the parish letters which speak of the great respect and affection with which Fr Dunstan was regarded by all. And this affection was mutual: the chief human comfort which sustained Fr Dunstan during his long illness was the hope of returning to his friends in Cumberland and to their children.
Always ready to undertake work in the interests of others, Fr Dunstan was a monk of such virtue that his labours were often quite certainly not of his own choosing. Thus he arrived at Ampleforth on 13th November (feast of All Monks) 1899, when he was already looking forward to a life 'on the Mission' after his ordination. And thirty-nine years later, on the same feast, he could say 'I am here still !'
His four years of study at Sant' Anselmo in Rome had won him a doctorate of divinity in 1907. From that date for thirty-nine years he never ceased to teach Moral Theology to the junior monks in the abbey, a task to which he brought all the buoyancy of his character. The city of Rome had exercised its charms upon him as upon so many others: he held cherished memories of Pope Pius X, and when we were very young, he regaled us with lantern-lectures about the Eternal City. He served as curator of the museum, and it was he who founded the Philatelic Society.
One has only to breathe the name 'Fr Dunstan' to any Old Boy of Ampleforth, and a twinkle of understanding will light up in his eyes. In imagination he will picture that well-known figure proceeding with small steps, but with dignity ('in full sail' the less reverent would remark), down the Boys' Passage to join his class in the little room which by unwritten law was practically his own. Hanging on the wall of this room was a map or picture which he would change each day and which would come to life thanks to Fr Dunstan's wide reading of literature and acquaintance with humanity. His thoroughness and enthusiasm over the work was shared by many, if not by all, of his pupils.
At first he was a teacher of English, but as other languages were required to be taught, Fr Dunstan would step into the breach, sparing no pains (or journeys abroad) to master a new tongue. Many of his pupils will gratefully recall his opening to them the treasures of Spanish literature for example. When the H.M.I. inspectors sifted all that was being done for education at Ampleforth (during the war years) the teacher whose work and method elicited their special commendation was Fr Dunstan.
The word 'twinkle' has crept into the paragraph above: few (we think) will express surprise when told that Fr Dunstan (who was aimability itself touched with a consciousness of dignity) provided an A.1., target for the self-appointed lampoonists and caricaturist of a Catholic public school. At one period of his career there existed in the School a guild of artists of Fr Dunstan, whose raison d'être was to reproduce him (in class or prep-time) in verse, in sketch, in paint, in cardboard, in three-ply. Many of these masterpieces are extant. A splendid one - alas ! it is lost - showed an ecclesiastic characteristically engaged with a stop-watch on the sports ground, the caption beneath proclaiming The Old Timer.
Ghost stories he loved.
Playing rugger (before the twenties of the century) he wore characteristic long shorts, and many must remember, as they read this, the sight of H.D.P., with ball high above his head, crying 'Where are you, Reds?' to a mob of expectant pygmies below. In the snow season he managed an omnibus sledge upon which a horde of innocents would clamber. The steering was dexterous, but the slope steep...
His life at Ampleforth was many-sided. He was Librarian from 1908-13; Third Prefect from 1913-16; Sub-prior from 1941-46.
From 1908-40 Fr Dunstan was associated with the family of Sir Mark Sykes at Sledmere, making a weekly trek across the Wolds to say Mass for the household. This phase of his apostolic work was at once stimulating and diverting. He would find new friends amongst the guests, and they in turn would quickly learn to enjoy his company, his gifts and his piety.
Fr Dunstan was appointed curate in Workington in September 1946. At first the change of life may well have been a wrench. On the retirement of Fr Clement Hesketh in January of the following year he was appointed parish priest. He completed the decoration of the baptistery and was responsible for the placing therein of the beautiful new font which had found no place in the original plan. The much-needed work of re-decorating the church was completed in 1949. The C.W.L. then came to Fr Dunstan's assistance and undertook to finance the interior decoration of the Priory. The carving of the wooden statues of St Joseph and of St Benedict was commissioned. For the greater splendour of the sanctuary Fr Dunstan was able to regild the tabernacle doors and also the large monstrance thanks to other generous donors.
Fr Dunstan's interest in the parish schools (Banklands', St Patrick's, St Joseph's) was unfailing. He authorized many improvements, not all of which could be completed before he was taken from us. Another great interest was the C.W.L. He rarely failed to attend the meeting of the League on Tuesday evenings, and it may be said that the members repaid his constant care with an amazing generosity. He was chaplain to the C.O.M. during the whole of his stay in Workington. His carefully-prepared weekly discourses merited a livelier attendance on Wednesday evenings. But the children of the parish were his principal delight, and it is quite certain that all of them were aware of his fatherly affection for them, and that they returned it with interest.
The edition of the Jesus Psalter which is used on Sunday evenings at Workington was prepared by Fr Dunstan himself, although his name, characteristically enough, does not appear. The spirit of its author, Richard Whitford, with his deep devotion to the Passion of Our Lord, is well reflected in Fr Dunstan's edifying life. Let us follow him in these words of the Fifteenth Petition:
HENRY DUSNTAN POZZI 20 August 1952
1880 30 Jan Born Liverpool
1891-97 Educ Cath Inst
1900 3 Sep Habit Prior Raynal
1901 4 Sep Simple Profession Prior Cummins
1902 18 May Minor Orders Belmont Bishop Hedley
1904 5 Oct Solemn Vows Ampleforth Abbot Smith
1905 18 Mar Subdeacon
1906 9 Jun Deacon Rome Archbishop Ceppetelli
1907 28 Jul Priest Ampleforth Bishop Hedley
1903-07 Oct Studied in Rome for his DD
1907 Jul Professor of Theology at Ampleforth until Sep 1946
1908 Librarian
1913 Apr to Aug 1916 3rd Prefect
1908-15 Chaplain at Eddlethorpe
1915-40 $$ Sledmere
1918-19 Nov Lay brother master
1941 10 Sep Subprior
1946 Sep Assistant at Workington
1947 3 Jan Parish Priest at Workington
1949 Dec Invalided to St Joseph's Horsforth
1950 9 Feb Ampleforth
6 Apr Workington
1952 20 Aug Died at St Joseph's Horsforth
Buried at Ampleforth