Fr Brian was born in Bolton Lancashire on 30th September 1929, into a family of modest means. His father had been a regular soldier and then worked in the textile industry. He had lost this job in the Great Depression but found another brewing beer. His mother also worked, running a small business to pay for the education of Brian, his brother Donald, and cousin Madeline, who lived with them as their little sister. Brian's mother was a staunch Catholic, his father was always supportive, and they enjoyed a happy family life.

Brian went to Thornleigh Salesian College and there took his Higher School Certificate. He developed his interest in religion and started thinking of becoming a priest. When he left Thornleigh as School Captain in 1947, both he and his good friend and deputy, Vincent Ford, went to the Salesian novitiate in Beckford. After First Profession, Brian was sent to Turin and gained a Licentiate in Philosophy. He then spent one year teaching in Thornleigh and two years teaching Philosophy in lngersley before returning to Turin for Theology, achieving a Licentiate in the subject. His studies also left him with a sound knowledge of the Italian language.

After priestly ordination in Turin on 1st July 1958, Fr Brian spent a year in Shrigley and then moved to Beckford where he taught Salesian students in formation until 1972. He then served as Rector in Blaisdon for three years, before going to Salesian College Farnborough as vice Rector and to teach science. Fr Brian was very practically minded, and he designed and built many pieces of equipment for the science laboratories, some of which are still in use today. His other interests included scouting - he was County Scout Chaplain - and Rugby football, which he introduced to the school. Among his students was Sean Devereux.

After fourteen years, and now aged 60, Fr Brian found himself in Africa. The Provincial at the time, Fr Michael Winstanley, was looking for a Salesian to go to the GBR mission in Liberia as headmaster of a secondary school in Monrovia. Fr Brian approached one of the younger Salesians who said he was willing, but that he had elderly parents to consider. Turning to Fr Brian he replied, 'Why don't you volunteer?' Fr Brian took up this unexpected challenge and wrote what he called a 'diffident' letter to the Provincial offering to go. The offer was accepted.

Fr Brian began work as Dean of the technical side of the school but had to leave three months later as civil war broke out. He returned to pick up the pieces as soon as things were a bit safer and apart from a year back in Battersea, he spent the years from 1989 until 1998 in a country torn by war. He witnessed atrocities of all kinds, including the use of child soldiers whom the Salesians later worked to rehabilitate. He also contracted malaria several times and was warned to leave 'the White Man's Grave'.

The next call was to East Africa, to Moshi in Tanzania, where Fr Brian taught philosophy to Salesian students from East and West Africa for about nine years. In 2007, now 78 years old, he was asked to go to the Junior Seminary in Mafinga. There he taught the students a variety of subjects, including English and French, and he taught himself Kiswahili, which among other things enabled him to celebrate Mass and the sacraments in the local vernacular.

Fr Brian joined the Farnborough Community on his return from Tanzania in August 2013. One of his first duties was to fly to Guernsey to celebrate the funeral of Fr Charles Chauvel. They had worked together on school trips to the island for many years. A few weeks later, he spoke to the junior boys in Salesian College, encouraging them in their 'Run for Sean' to raise money for the Sean Devereux Children's Fund.

In the following years, Fr Brian continued to play a very active part in the mission of the Community, presiding at Masses, helping with supply cover in parishes and religious communities, near and far, representing the Community at Salesian events around the country, and using his considerable practical talents to make useful items from cast off timber and prepare attractive displays on feast days. He was also a most welcoming host when we had overseas visitors, especially from Africa, often surprising them with his knowledge of Swahili. He was held in great esteem in the College and the headmaster put on a splendid celebration for his 90th birthday.

In his final years, he put a lot of his energy into setting up and maintaining a community library. In spite of increasing pain from arthritis and consequent reduction of mobility, he always played his part in cleaning and resetting the tables after meals. He had a deep sense of piety, faithful to the regular prayers of the community and to devotions such as the rosary and commemorations on the 24th and 31st of each month. When he was no longer able to stand, he continued to attend the community Mass.

A message which Fr Brian often repeated was that the Christian standard of love was not 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself' (Lev 19:18, cf Mt 19:19, 22:39), but 'Love one another as I (Jesus) have loved you.' (Jn 13:34, 15:12). This, he insisted, was a much higher standard, and it was one that he strove every day to achieve.

Fr Brian celebrated his 92nd birthday with the community, but by-then he was eating very little and starting to become confused. He was taken to hospital on 18th October, but his condition did not improve. Because of the COVID situation, visiting opportunities were very restricted, but he was brought Holy Communion on most days. On 19th November, he was transferred to a specialist Nursing Home in nearby Aldershot. He was allowed no visitors during a period of quarantine, but on 27th November there was a call from the Nursing Home saying that his condition had deteriorated further. Two members of the community visited him. to bring Viaticum. They found him very distressed and were not able to stay for very long. Later, he became more peaceful and in the evening the call came that he had died.

May he rest in peace!

Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB