We are assembled here to thank Almighty God for the graces which we have received through Fr Peter Utley, and to pray for the repose of his soul. Richard Utley, 'Dick' as he was then called, left this school in 1924. That was the year when Abbot Smith died, to be succeeded by Abbot Matthews. It was the year also when Fr Paul Nevill became Headmaster; and Fr Peter, for the best part of his life, was to identify himself with the ideals which were dear to Abbot Matthews and to Fr Paul.
When he left the school it must have been clear to those who knew him that he was destined for a brilliant career. He began his two years' training at the Royal Air Force College at Cranwell; was commissioned in 1926, joining 58 Squadron of Bomber Command. By then he had already made his mark as a cricketer. In 1927 he had already become a regular member of the Hampshire County Cricket Club, had represented the Royal Air Force, and was chosen to play in a Gentlemen versus Players match of that year.
His professional competence, which was characteristic of him all through his life, was reinforced by remarkable personal qualities - a charm of manner that was magnetic in its capacity to draw people, an ability to make friends that was instinctive. Not only was he a lovable person in himself but he knew the secret of loving, a loving that was at the same time magnanimous and spontaneous. That noble soul could never have borne a grudge against anybody. Nobody could quarrel with him and remain at enmity with him. He was a big man and his relationship with others was strong. Moreover he had within him a power of leadership, characterised by a strong sense of duty and a loyalty to persons and causes. It was clear that he was going to do well in the way of life he had chosen.
It must have been puzzling for many when at the age of 22 he deliberately decided to become a monk, although in fact he was only fulfilling a desire that first came to him when he was 14. How many persons there must have been who shook their heads at the apparent waste of so much potential. And how incredible it must have seemed that a man with such marked personal qualities which endeared him to so many, and who would certainly have risen high in the career that he had chosen, should now turn his back on so much. But it was a clear call from God and he entered into the monastic life fully aware of what he was putting behind him and equally aware of what he was to embrace. His early life in many ways determined the pattern of his work in the school and the community. For 28 years he was the Housemaster of the Junior House and close on some 1,500 boys were his direct and personal responsibility for two important years in their lives. And how many of them have subsequently paid tribute to the influence which was Fr Peter's on them, an influence which perhaps derived not so much from what he said and what he did but from what he was. For 29 years he commanded the C.C.F. which brought him many contacts, both in the school and outside: and that work was recognised by the award of the O.B.E. Since 1933 he played a prominent part in the cricket of Ampleforth; indeed his was the dominating part. For 35 years he worked daily in the classroom, teaching French and Religion. And to all this work he brought a devotion and a loyalty which were strong characteristics of his. And yet those who met him and those who worked with him knew always that there was something deep in Fr Peter Utley. He was, as indeed are all humans, a mixture of weaknesses and strengths. If his mind was intuitive rather than analytical, he was a practical person, but sensitive; and he had good taste. He was very English but had a profound feeling for Europe, its civilisation and culture. He was a conservative and a traditionalist, but bold and a man of pronounced initiative.
His close friends knew that his reaction to persons and situations would generally be predictable and consistent, his planning and organisation less so. His reactions were those of a man who had high standards and ideals. But there was one thing about him, and I think it is the thing by which he will be best remembered. I will explain it this way: there are two communities at Ampleforth, indeed I think that in fact they are only one; the community of monks at prayer and work here at Ampleforth or on our parishes, and that other community which is made up of old boys from the school, our parishioners, the members of our lay staff and our friends, a host of persons whom it is our joy and privilege to serve and from whom we receive so much. Now Fr Peter understood this certainly as well as, and probably better than, many of us. Effortlessly he attracted people to himself, and in return gave himself unsparingly to them. All his many contacts with persons in every walk of life were seen by him as opportunities to witness to Christ and to Christian values. He understood that this large invisible community, which is the extension of our own, was something which we in the community must treasure and value.
He was a lovable person who knew the secret of true love. As time went on his natural gifts became increasingly transformed into strong Christian virtues and themselves became instruments for communicating the love of God to those with whom he came into contact. As a young man he had consecrated himself to God, taking the vows of obedience, of stability and conversion of manners, as we call it. Now it is axiomatic that no one is safe to command until he has learnt to obey. That Fr Peter had learnt in the Services. But his obedience was a true fulfilment of his monastic vows, for through it he sought the will of God, and through his acceptance of obedience he accepted the will of God. And this is no guesswork of the internal workings of Fr Peter's mind. This I knew to be true. And that is why his leadership had a sensitiveness and a gentleness which made his influence so great. And he stuck to his tasks, prepared at any moment to relinquish them if that was what authority required of him. But he stayed on as long as he was wanted, always cheerful and gay, devoted and loyal; loyal to his work, to his community and to his friends. A very stable person, a very mature person in a world that is changing fast. But although a monk's life is characterised by stability in the work he has to do and fidelity to the community to which he belongs, the monk himself is bound by his vows to make progress in devotion to Almighty God and to become daily more Christ-like. This is what we call 'conversion'. And it became very clear in the last two or three months that Fr Peter Utley had acquired a genuine detachment from the things of this world. It was in no sense because he did not appreciate or did not value the world; quite the contrary - but internally he had become detached. And it was clear that there was only one thing that was dominating his life, and that was to fulfil the will of God.
After 28 years in charge of the Junior House it seemed right that he should be given a change of work. He had shown very evident signs of tiredness in recent terms. There had been less vigour in his life these last three years. So it was decided that he should go, for one year only, to work in one of our parishes in order to gain experience in the pastoral ministry of the adult world. He knew that he was only going for one year and that he would return here so that he could devote himself more completely to the many persons who come to this monastery for help and guidance. And because I treasured the influence that he would have within the community in the monastery, I looked forward to his return. The day before he died he was cheerful and gay and joking, looking forward, not backward. It was God's will for him that he should leave the tasks that he had done so well. He had accepted that totally, obediently, because it was God's will. He was ready to die, so God took him.
RICHARD PETER UTLEY 28 August 1968
1906 11 Feb Born Emsworth Hants
1919-24 Educ Ampleforth
1919 7 Dec Received into the Church at Ampleforth
1924 RAF Cadet College Cranwell
1926 Held a commission in the RAF
Played cricket for Hampshire & the Gentlemen
1928 Clothed at Ampleforth
1929 Temporary Vows
1931-32 Studied French at St Benet's Hall
1932-33 Studied French in Paris
1932 Solemn Vows
1934 Subdeacon
1935 Deacon
1936 19 Jul Priest
1932 On the school staff, having charge of the cricket & being commissioned in the Office Training Corps
1937 Jan Assistant at the Junior House
1940 Sep Housemaster at the Junior House, a post which he held until a month before his death
1939 Sep Assumed command of the Cadet Corps & held that appointment also till just before his death, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel & being awarded the OBE
1968 28 Aug He was at the point of taking up new work in our parish at Cardiff when he died suddenly at Ampleforth
Buried at Ampleforth