Fr Larry McDonnell SDB was an Irish Salesian, known to many in our Province from his time at Shrigley and elsewhere, in the days when the British and Irish Provinces were one, before following his missionary vocation to Swaziland.

The impression Larry made on his students and those he mentored - a list that includes prominent figures in business and politics in the region - was so profound that his former pupils decided to pay tribute to him in the form of a book. 'Larry, Simply Larry' by Elias Masilela, tells his remarkable story. Larry died on Christmas Day last year, shortly after the book was completed and launched in Swaziland.

While he was head teacher at the secondary school in Manzini, Larry was instrumental in creating Manzini Youth Care, which runs educational and social programmes and operates orphanages and facilities for street children. Inyoni, as he was affectionately known, stood firmly against apartheid, and protected many people from persecution, as well as giving them the opportunity to impporve their lives.

The book received its UK launch in London last week, and was attended by Larry's cousin Pat Boyle and by Salesian Cooperator and Shrigley Old Boy, Bernard O'Neill.

Larry, Simply Larry is available on Amazon in print and e-book formats.