Fr Bede Emerson, whose early death at the age of 44, was a sad blow for his Community, and especially for the Fathers and staff at Gilling Castle, was born in 1936, and spent part of his early youth in Brazil, and the USA. He grew up in the Anglican faith, and went to school at Wellington College, becoming a steady scholar, and gaining entrance to Merton College, Oxford, a prize no easier of attainment then than now.
He did his National Service before going up to Merton in 1956, and spent two years in the Royal Signals. He went through the training routine at Catterick, was selected for a commission, and ended up in Germany, where he carried more responsibility than usual for one of his rank, and learned something of the fecklessness of humanity. At the same time, he was attracted by the Catholic Church, and took steps to receive instruction, and finally to enter into full communion.
He flourished at Merton, enjoying his work, and taking a full part in the life of the College, and of the Catholic Chaplaincy, where he came to know Mgr Val Elwes well. At this time the assistant chaplain was a Frenchman, Père Yves, and Victor Emerson knew both of them well enough to be often invited to breakfast after early Mass, where he observed with characteristic sympathy and amusement, the contest between The Times, and liturgical conversation. He became President of the Newman Society, the society for Catholic under- graduates, which attracted large numbers to its regular meetings and social functions. Overall, Victor certainly gained much from the ever-open door and sense of Catholic community, so successfully fostered by the chaplains at Oxford. In College, he also made friends, and made a mark when he became Chairman of a committee set up to consider the needs of postgraduate students, and other men living out of College. He won general respect in this role, and persuaded the College authorities to furnish and set aside a room where these men could leave their belongings, and make coffee. The idea proved to be a great success, and by common acclaim the room was called 'The Emerson Room'. It was the direct ancestor of the present Middle Common Room.
He told his friends, to their astonishment, at the end of his time at Oxford, that he wanted to become a monk. But he had debts to pay, and perhaps wanted, or needed more experience, before coming to Ampleforth, (he visited more than one Benedictine house, but was quite decisive in his choice) and so he found a job at St Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, for two years. His degree was in History, but he was adaptable, and taught other subjects as well. St Mary's Hall was the prep school for Stonyhurst, and Victor found that he could cope happily with this age group. Once again, his gifts and devotion were appreciated, but there was no turning aside from his wish to come to Ampleforth, and so he arrived and was clothed as a novice in September 1961.
He took the religious name of Bede, (a happy choice, for he was to be the second monk of that name to make his mark at Gilling) and came into the novitiate with 15 others: the largest group to enter the novitiate at one time at Ampleforth. There were three other graduates in the group, but he was the oldest and most experienced. He went through the novitiate with simplicity, though a certain temperamental fussiness gave him some small reminder of the difficulties, as well as of the rewards of community life. Abbot Basil thought it best that he should study his theology at Ampleforth, and so he combined that with some teaching of A level history, and with rugger coaching and, eventually, work with the sea scouts. With his three graduate contemporaries, he came to ordination in 1968.
Already in these years he was having difficulty over his health, and was far from fit for years on end. A persistent infection, stemming from an unpleasant attack of brucellosis, endured for years, and he also had to undergo a major kidney operation. The effects of this never fully wore off, and in the last year of his life he underwent treatment for an eye condition connected with the original illness. All this was a considerable trial for an active man, and most certainly hampered his work after his ordination. That he became so considerable a force at Gilling Castle in spite of it all, was remarkable.
He moved to Gilling in January 1971, to fill the gap left by Fr William's death. He took over the senior form, and his ability to combine gentleness and good humour with some steadiness of discipline, soon gave him a respected position in the School at large, as well as endearing him to his own boys. [As one parent wrote, 'Although my son had little contact with him, he seemed to regard him with quite some affection.] His activities in the School were manifold. He taught History and some Religious Education, and coped with much administration, notably the School timetable, but he also found time to encourage tennis, to run the Art Room, and to spend spare time playing Bridge and Chess, or swimming with the boys. Perhaps most notably he began a series of termly plays, acted on a stage in the Gallery. Coaching of actors and stage-hands was all done by himself; and on one occasion he wrote the play as well! His private interests were also brought into use: he spent what time he could during the holidays, on the history of the Castle and of the Fairfax family, and especially on Heraldry, (the coats of arms painted on the frieze of the Great Chamber provided a graphic starting point). This resulted in illustrated lectures to the boys.
Much of the crucial work in adapting Gilling to the age range of a full prep school inevitably fell to Fr Bede, as the senior form master. Much of the change in style needed for older boys was hardly noticed, thanks to him, and he was always eager for any extension in the opportunities open to the boys. Groups were taken for Squash or Badminton to the St Alban Centre, orienteering was introduced, and the School took part in the Prep Schools' tennis tournament.
As if this were not enough, he was always available to anyone, parent, teacher, boy, domestic staff, who wanted advice, sympathy, or just a listener. He was often a mediator, though he never interfered unasked. He was able to advise without causing resentment: an important thing in a small community. Perhaps this was so, in part, because his personal faith and devotion was so genuine. It was characteristic of him that he said Mass with such a mixture of devotion and nervous haste: he was never satisfied with his efforts in any sphere, least of all in this. That was so in spite of his imaginative and amusing sermons, to which the boys looked forward, and in spite of the great trouble he took with such things as a collection of prayers chosen by members of his form, and with the Lenten Stations of the Cross services, which involved readings spoken by members of the congregation.
His heart was obviously and rightly at Gilling, and yet he was loyal in his visits to the Community at Ampleforth, and spent time here during the holidays. We did not see very much of him in the last Easter holiday, because he had happily been given the chance to visit the Holy Land as chaplain to a cruise ship. He returned with some entertaining stories, but also, as it turned out, having done much pastoral work; and he looked very tired. He had had chest pains the previous summer, and felt very ill during the first week-end of term, but carried on as usual. Early on Wednesday morning, he called one of the brethren, who came down to him, and he died, quietly, soon afterwards. May he rest in peace.
DOM VICTOR BEDE EMERSON 30 April 1980
1936 Born Glasgow CE
Early life in Brazil & USA
Educ Wellington College
1954 Royal Signals (National Service)
Converted to Church
1956 Studied history at Merton College Oxford
President - Newman Society
1959 Teaching at St Mary's Hall Stonyhurst
1961 21 Sep Habit at Ampleforth
1962 21 Sep Simple Profession
1965 21 Sep Solemn Profession
1968 Priest
Teaching at Ampleforth
Scouts
Frail health - kidney operation & eyes
1971 Jan On staff at Gilling Castle
1980 30 Apr Died suddenly at Gilling Castle
Buried at Ampleforth