Brother Alan Garman SDB 

(A living Tribute to Brother Alan; by Tony Brady) Click here   

Mike O'Brien, Norman  Taylor and John Ward made a visit to the Salesian House at Farnborough with the kind permission of Brother Joe Adams SDB to spend a little time  with Brother Alan in his advancing years.  Brother Alan has been a major influence on the life of Blaisdon Old Boys over the many years that Brother Alan was part of the Community at Blaisdon Hall.

Whilst Brother Alan has been somewhat unwell of late, we were delighted to find him in good form.  We thought we would spend only a short time with him but his stamina amazed us.  We were privileged to spend two or three hours with him and there was no sign of him ready to throw in the towel.

Even the frightening noise of the Farnborough Air Display flying overhead of us as we walked together in the grounds did not deter him.  Red Arrows, Vulcan Bomber or Eurofighter roared overhead and Brother Alan looked up as we did to see these aircraft at very close quarters.  The Salesian House is very close to the Farnborough airfield.

We had a wonderful day together.  Indeed we deliberately arrived after lunch so that we did not interrupt the Community meal.  As we were wandering around with Brother Alan on first arrival Father Brian,  the Rector, said the young lady in the kitchen was awaiting us as she was going to fix up something to eat.  So as she was due off duty very soon and we were delaying her we went to the dining room where she quickly produced Egg, Baked Beans and Chips.  Yes, Chips, don't tell Father Michael, the Provincial, as I know he is always hoping for chips when he visits Farnborough!

A few photos follow:

Brother Alan in the Community Lounge area

Mike O'Brien in conversation with Brother Alan

John Ward posing with Brother Alan

Mike O'Brien, Brother Alan and Norman Taylor.  (Mike sorry about closed eyes!)

Mike, Brother Alan, Norman and another old stalwart, Brother Neil McElwee SDB

Mike, Norman and Brother Alan strolling in the grounds on a beautiful sunny day.

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Dear Friends

We have just heard from the Provincial in South Africa that Fr Anthony 
Garman SDB passed away this evening in hospital in Cape Town. He had 
recently celebrated his 95th birthday. May he rest in peace.

Fr Anthony Garman, brother of our Br Alan Garman, was born in Kent. His 
Salesian studies were in Cowley and Blaisdon, where he was ordained in 
1942. After teaching in Shrigley during the Second World War he was 
transferred to South Africa in 1946 and spent most of his life teaching 
in Cape Town, Daleside and Landsdowne.

Please pray for the repose of his soul, for Br Alan and other members of 
his family, and for his Salesian community.

Fr Patrick Sherlock SDB (GBR Provincial Secretary)
Thornleigh Salesian House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ
Tel: 01204 600 720 Web: www.salesians.org.uk
Salesians of Don Bosco UK is a Registered Charity: 233779
Charity Registered in Scotland: SC039294 

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Date:   1/9/2008, 15:18, GMT +1 Name:   Tony Brady Number:   101

My sincere condolences to Brother Alan Garman on the death of his brother Anthony. I had the privilege of meeting him in the house of his parents in Beckford Grange sometime in the 1950's. I had cycled from Blaisdon to Beckford with Brother Alan. It was a boiling hot day and I dropped off to sleep while pedalling along and Bro. Alan had to haul me out of a ditch of nettles.. I remember speaking to the brother's father who was a doctor of medicine. Their mother was most approachable and set me at my ease. Not having until then experienced the atmosphere of a happy family home I was struck by the fact that both adult men called their parents "Mummy" and "Daddy". After lunch, we all went for a spin to nearby Broadway in Dr. Garman's beautifully appointed Daimler. I was to enjoy the Garman's hospitality on further visits..

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BROTHER ALAN GARMAN SDB  - CELEBRATING HIS LIFE

Why should we wait for a person to die before we express our love and admiration for them? I am going to celebrate the life of a man who has had, indeed maintains, a lasting influence on my own life. I am prompted by a recent visit made to Brother Alan in his retirement home by John Ward, Michael O'Brien and Norman Taylor. Now in his 90's, he remembered my name: I will never forget him.

Brother Alan began to influence me from the first day I met him. He was already a local hero when I arrived in Blaisdon (1952) having sometime survived an attack by a Shorthorn bull at Stud Farm. Broken ribs resulted - Brother Alan's... Obviously, the boy's folklore built the incident up: "Armed with only a pitchfork he kept the beast at bay for hours..!" "He punched it to its knees!" Or, "He grabbed it by its nose ring and flung it into a pile of nettles. Another version would have been: "He stared it into a trance then led it quietly to its pen!" One for the Confessional possibly: "Just as the enraged beast was about to toss him for the fourth time and gore him with both horns a full-on heifer appeared and diverted the bull's attention. Graphic details suppressed - it being the 1950's..." Finally: "Seeing his chance to escape, Brother Alan used a pitchfork to vault over a six-foot-high hedge..." 

Serious, moustached, Brother Alan was introduced to the arrival party in which I was included after we had our first meal in Blaisdon Hall. He showed us round his metal-workshop and when he learned my forename, he told me that he has a brother - a priest - called Anthony. When we finished the visit and said that we were going down to the farm he smiled saying "Ah! You are going to meet Don Bosco!" "He means Father Daniel Lucy!" said Freddie Cove, our guide, as we walked away and headed down the front drive.

It wasn't long before I was in daily contact with Brother Alan as he was Dormitory Assistant to Father Traynor. He had his own curtained-off cell in the dormitory. The first thing I noticed about him was his kindly attitude to bed-wetters. This was in complete contrast to the treatment meted out to them in Enfield. So much so, that within a very short time, this was a problem that was overcome. How he achieved this success was something I experienced. After lights out he kept a low light on in his cell and before midnight, when I supposed he turned in, he would waken the boys with this problem and shepherd them to the toilet. As I was one, I remember he tucked you in on your return and said "Goodnight and God Bless!" at the same impressing the sign of the cross on your forehead with his thumb. That was the treatment and it worked.

In Chapel, Brother Alan, kneeling on the right side, led the Morning and Night Prayers. He did not possess an expressive and varied tone of voice. His monotone delivery was mimicked by the boys: something he turned to amusing use in other areas of school life. Neither could he hold a tune. Many was the time when he launched into a hymn and was so flat that a priest on the altar or saying his breviary at the back of the chapel, would have to rescue the recital with a timely intervention of correct pitch and tone. Brother Alan never seemed to notice. Brother Charles O'Donnell, kneeling on the left side, was very similar in that regard.

Like all boys of my time in Blaisdon, I was taught carpentry and metalwork. Before being set any form of practical metal-work, Brother Alan required that a drawing be made. He taught us technical drawing in classroom then we worked off the drawing in the workshop. The standard test-piece was making a match-box holder. With just three pieces of small sheet-metal you learned how to use a snibbs, a metal punch, a hammer, a file, shaping metal with the aid of a vice, a grinder and soldering. The two small sheets ended up fixed by solder to a third piece which was curved to form feet. It was then buffed to a shine on a lathe. Finally the match-box was then placed within, with a tolerance that allowed the box to be slid open, a match removed then struck without dislodging the box.

An interesting diversion in the workshop was to assist Brother Allan in his working skill of ornamental ironwork. Typically, he heated a piece of metal in a brazier using a bellows to introduce oxygen. When the metal was red hot he transferred it to an anvil and beat it into his chosen shape. Now and then he would plunge the item into cold water causing his watchers to jump back as it hissed and spluttered. Away from the forge he would fascinate us with the effects of flame when using the contents of the tall bomb-like tubes. The oxygen and acetylene gas filled cylinders: "the whizz-bangs!" He could make one go Pop! And the other go Bang!

Amazingly, with all this working and teaching knowledge Brother Alan was attending Gloucester Technical College where he acquired his City & Guild's qualifications. In the future, I was to watch him shoe a horse, weld two bicycles together to tow a carriage for the arrival of Father Christmas and most instructive of all, observe, wonder and appreciate his skills as a goldsmith.

I have just completed this Piece on Brother Alan and now realise that to do him justice because of his multi talents and his life-time Salesian achievements I must do a series: Teacher & Carer, Activities Organiser, Sportsman, Engineer, Farmer, Mystic, Academy's Performer. So, for openers, I have re-glimpsed his caring/teaching influence. Luckily, I kept in touch with him by letter and saw him regularly until the late 1980's. I once took an East End chum on a day trip to Symond's Yat, calling at Blaisdon Hall. There, Brother Alan made us a slap-up tea. On the way back to London my cockney mate referred to our Salesian host as: "A diamond geezer!" For the next facet of this Celebration prepare to meet Brother Alan - Academy Performer. "RataPlan! Rataplan! I'm a Military Man."

By: Tony Brady                                

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BROTHER ALAN GARMAN (2) - THE ACADEMY PERFORMER

A much looked forward to and greatly appreciated event during the school year was the variety concert known as The Academy. These were prepared with much prior practice and performed on the eve of Feast-Days and special occasions, such as the Rector's Birthday.

A typical fare would be an opening Selection performed by the school brass band conducted by Father John Connolly or Father Francis Rodgers. Then, a solo sung by a top member of the choir such as Terry Chaplin. George Austin would follow with a rendering of popular tunes on his piano accordion. After that a Quartet, comprising Fathers Rodgers (1st violin) & Hugh Drumm (2nd violin) Brother Gerald Clifton (flute) and Father George Hilton (piano) would render a classical piece. A Recitation was next on the Bill and usually featured Brother Alan Garman. 

After an Interval, the school Choir would be taken through its paces with a least one sacred music contribution in Latin. Members of the earlier Quartet would then give solo performances. Father Hilton would sing in a near falsetto warble something from his wide Music Hall repertoire: Gracie Fields was one of his great inspirations: "Sally! Sally! Pride of our Alley and "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye!" were firm favourites. Father Drumm or Father Rodgers would accompany him at the piano. Either would then accompany Brother Gerald. Various members of the band would perform in turn solos on the trombone, cornet, horns or euphonium. 

Finally, a Play would put on by a Company of boys, priests and Brothers. These were normally drawing room settings with historical, murder or mystery plots produced by Father Hilton or Father Connolly. Once a year, an adaptation of a William Shakespeare play was presented. Many boys of the 1950's era will remember performances of The Merchant of Venice: Freddy Cove was a particularly fine Shylock & Julius Caesar which stared Peter "Fatty" Caine as the eponymous roman emperor. An often remarked upon 1940s open air production was, A Midsummer Night's Dream, performed on the terrace overlooking the lawns and produced by Father Grace who also composed its incidental music. By far the greatest excitement was generated by the plays presented by the Beckford theologians.

Brother Alan's involvement in Academy's was mostly in the "Noises On & Noises Off" Departments. He stage-managed most productions and specialized in creating sounds of thunder with a sheet of metal, lightening effects, sudden bangs, clattering horses hooves - two half coconuts banged on a board - blood curdling shouts and screams and scenery and light changes. He made mock swords and armory. His non-speaking parts involved brief appearances designed to remove or place stage effects as the action progressed.

When Brother Alan was on the Bill he delivered recitations and monologues. Typically, the curtains would open and he would move rapidly from stage right to left and back in a sideways forward and reverse motion on an imaginary horse shouting: "Rataplan! Rataplan! I'm a Military Man!" These cavortings would come to a stop centre stage and he would appear not to know where he was, while scratching his head. Then he launched into word perfect renderings from the works of Rudyard Kipling such as "There's a Little Yellow Idol East of Katmandu or IF. Part of the poem The Ancient Mariner "Water! Water! Everywhere and not a drop to drink.." was somberly intoned.

Sometimes, Brother Alan did a double act with Brother Charles O'Donnell. They would play two lost tramps and engage in nonsense repartee. "It's being cheerful that keeps me going.." "What's the time?" "Teatime!" "Yes - we have no bananas!" "Is it far to Longhope?" "Dunno! Never heard of it" "Where's Huntley?" "Next to Palmer's Green!" Then, they would duet First World War songs like Pack up your Troubles in your Old Kit-Bag. It's A Long Way to Tipperary, or popular standards such My Old Man's A Dustman and Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major.

Earlier, I mentioned that both Brother's were mimicked by the boys to general amusement in playground and recreation. On stage now, their tour de force was when they parodied themselves, accurately copying those boys who they knew took the Mickey out of them. It was so funny. More knock about word play would end with Brother Alan and Charles shouldering imaginary arms and marching off to the sounds of a bugle or taking to their heels as another Priest or Brother dressed as a policeman appeared calling for their arrest while announcing the next act. More than likely, Brother Edward Barron and his lugubrious monologue "We'll All Be Ruined."

By: Tony Brady  11 AUGUST 2008                              

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By Tony Brady  07 September 2008

There is a rich seam of Bro Alan's varied aspects largely because I was very friendly with him and spoke with him most days from 1955 -1961. Those were my Stud Farm years and I often helped Bro. Alan in my spare time either in his workshops or in his extensive sports groundsmanship. For example, I often gang-mowed the Park and Harvey's Acre with various farm tractors in the long light evenings after I had finished my farm work.

It was quite natural to him - BA - to invite me to visit his family from time to time. In addition, Stud Farm ran Beckford Salesian farm after the Theologate re-located to Melchett Court. There were no stock then all having been sold off but the cereals were harvested and sold locally along with hay and silage. Several times I actually drove a tractor from Blaisdon to Beckford - a distance of 40 miles. 

I stopped over in the almost deserted Theologate while Bro.Joe or Alan knocked up the necessary sustenance in the former kitchens that once catered for a host of priests and students, then drove back a few days later to Blaisdon. For the teenager I was then it was all a great adventure. 

Brother Alan's family home was about 500 yards distance from Beckford Hall. It was a brick built Grange with outbuildings, stables, garage, dove-cotes etc. It had grand entrance gates and a gravel drive. The house interior was all chintzy curtains and soft deep enveloping furnishings. Friendly cats and small dogs lounged about exuding comfort and joy as great log-fed fires in season created a most homely glow reflected back from book-lined alcoves. Large windows overlooked expansive lawns and colourful flowerbeds. The nearest I had ever come to such comfort and homeliness was staring at the pages of Country Life. The Garmans were - as we boys would have put it then - "toffs" - but there was no airs and graces. Dr. Garman was interested in me and his wife treated me as though I was one of the family. That is a measure of what I now know to be real "class". 

In fact, the Garman name is one that heads a whole series of distinguished English families that can trace ancestry right back to the Norman Conquest. The name Garman is actually derived from the Saxon for German. I GOOGLED this. 

One branch had two brilliant arty sisters, one of whom thought nothing of suddenly stripping naked and flinging herself into the nearest fountain. Her sibling was known for reading Proust in bed, turning the pages with fur-lined gloves. Nothing like this happened of course at chez Brother Alan's but I suppose if I had looked hard enough at the bookshelves, I would have discovered a copy of A La Recherché du Temps Perdu, Marcel's masterpiece. Brother Alan's sister spoke fluent French.

Wonderful Memories

There may yet be more to come

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BROTHER ALAN GARMAN (3) - THE GAMES MASTER

The scene is Harvey’s Acre playing field. It’s a glorious sunny July day. The grass is close cropped. In the centre of the green square the cricket pitch is ready prepared. The bowling and popping creases are thickly marked with white chalk. Stumps are set while the bails are still in the pavilion. A shin high circling rope marks the playing area boundary. The long grass beyond which sweeps away in all directions into the green expanse known as Our Lady’s Field awaits the inevitable sixes and the cries of “Lost Ball!” The possible distractions, depending on which direction looked, comprise Stud Farm, Blaisdon Parish Church and Blaisdon Hall, Blaisdon Halt Railway Station, Hart’s sloping field and next to it Rabbit Hill. At the Scorer’s position the heading in the leather-bound Match Book reads: Priests & Brothers v The Boy’s First Eleven. It’s a single innings match. 

Dressed in long white coats a Priest and a senior boy lead the fielding team out and each player takes up their position as set by the captain. The white coated umpires position the bails on each wicket. A brand new cricket ball is handed to the fielding-side Captain who tosses it to his selected bowler. Two batsmen immerge from the pavilion: white padded, dressed in immaculate white shirt and flannels they are accompanied by enthusiastic hand-clapping by the waiting players and observers. Father John Gilheney and Brother Alan Garman are opening the batting. The Priest, wearing his old school cap, has the bearing and presence of Peter May, the England cricket Captain of the day while the Brother, wearing a County Cricket cap sometime gained as a junior player with Kent takes his stance to face the bowler.

David Giblin makes his sleek fast run-in and bowls. Brother Alan plays a copy-book forward stroke and scores a four. The next ball is steered smoothly to the off side: another four. The third ball is met with a perfect forward stroke and it flies past the bowler’s head and over the boundary. The next two balls are placed with perfect bat-on-ball precision and deft footwork for a two and another four respectively. The school cricket coach is giving a master class. The umpire calls “Over”. Father Gilheney faces medium pacer Alan Ferry.

The over is a spectacle of wristy glances which send the ball in all directions. Father John cuts, steers and sweeps with equal ease on the 'on' and 'off' side of his wicket with a sweet drive for six straight down the wicket. So it goes on as he plays just about every stroke in the book . Finally, at a score of 30 he sportingly gives away his wicket by popping a simple catch behind. 


Father Wilson comes in: in mock terror the fielders retreat to the boundary in all directions. The umpire gives him middle and off and he makes his mark. He knocks a respectable 15 runs and on an appeal for “LBW!” walks. Father Wrangham - Rector - plays elegant strokes and races to 40 then graciously gets himself out. He is followed by Father George Hilton who uses a runner - John “Chick” Walshe - winner of all the school sports distance races and Victor Ludorum. He manages to score 10 runs with a series of unorthodox strokes. Father Bill Boyd comes in and soon sets the fielders running in all directions as he easily scores 29 then deliberately gets himself out. Father Francis Rodgers, wearing on his head a white handkerchief knotted at four corners, scores a nifty dozen and on snicking a ball behind walks to the loud cry of “Owzat!” Father Patrick McGrath takes stance and is bowled for a Duck. Brother Alan continues to play forward strokes scoring steadily with placing the ball past the bowler’s head to the boundary. Brothers Tom Caulfield, Edward Baron and Jan Orysiuk are the tail-enders and manage to knock up a dozen between them. The innings ends with Brother Jan out middle stump to a “Yorker” by David Giblin, leaving Brother Alan - Not Out - on 40 runs. Then all hands to the heavy roller..

With a total of 181 to beat the boy batsmen fall swiftly to the pace bowling of Fathers Rector and Rodgers. There is some respite when Fathers Wilson and McGrath take the bowling and are hit all in all directions. The unwary at the crease are quickly dismissed by Brother Alan whose wicket keeping is masterly although he is quick to compliment good batting. So with David Giblin, (25) and Sam Hayes, (30) maintaining the backbone, there is a steady stream of cheered entrances and groaned-over exits as the likes of Ronald Groves, (12) John O’Keefe, (14) Malcolm Trumper, (10) Alan Ferry, (0) John (15)& Lawrence Dunbar, (12) Peter Whitehead, (18) John Loftus (0) and Peter Noone (12 not out) achieve a total and respectable score of 136. 

So ends just one of many very pleasant Blaisdon afternoons: Priests, Lay-Brothers and boys in friendly competition. Pitch perfect, oiled bats, practice net, fresh chalked pads, batting gloves; all down to Brother Alan’s self-effacing preparation and organizing skills. Hail! A Great All-Rounder! 
   By Tony Brady 18 September 2008

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BROTHER ALAN GARMAN SDB (4) -  THE ENGINEER - A DISASTER AVERTED

Brother Alan's application of his metal-fabricating skills saved immense expenditure and obviated high initial cost outlays. George Austen, who performed marvels of landscape maintenance in keeping the Blaisdon Hall lawns and grounds so attractive, used to express his admiration thus: "Brother Alan saves the Salesians a fortune!" A new side required for a lorry or farm trailer? Brother Alan made it. A portable cooking range salvaged from army field-kitchen surplus and in bits, is completely reconstructed. Even the nuts and bolts are hand cut, died and threaded. Replacement plates are made and riveted. A new chimney shaped and welded then fitted. All made ready for annual installation in the cook-house at the Porthcawl Summer Camp.

A notable feat of Brother Alan's engineering skills was accomplished in the building of the catholic church in Newent. A particular architectural feature of the church is the series of load bearing roof supports which are set in footings and the space between them in-filled with brickwork by Billy Udell. These supports were made at Permali's factory in Gloucester where wing-struts were constructed for The Gloster Aircraft Company. They are of immense strength because of the lamination and remain undeviating under stress and also allow an unimpeded space as cross beams are not required. No specialist firm was engaged for their erection due to huge estimates, and as hiring a crane would be very expensive, the prevailing can do approach typical of Brother Alan Garman and Brother Joe Carter determined their placement with engineering ingenuity. In today's newly re-furbished church, the original stained brown and highly varnished supports are painted white now, to give a faux stone or concrete impression possibly.

At Stud Farm, the Brothers both designed and made an extension to the standard tractor hydraulically lifted and lowered front loader. This would extend to the church's roof height: bolted to it was a large dustbin-like container which held two persons. From this the roof supports could be connected at their peaks and permanently fastened. Up and down trials were carried out on the Stud Farm high Dutch barns. Apart from being selected for the first test ride - my absolute faith in Bro. Alan precluded me from asking Fr. Dan for the Last Rites - while Bro. Joe said "It would be the closest you ever get to heaven Brady!" I have two particular claims to fame here. 

First: because this extension was so long when fixed to the tractor, there were hazards in getting it around a number of the bends on the Clifford's Mesne and Solomon's Tump road, as the whole device, made from welded scaffold poles and connected to the "Horn Draulic" tractor was driven from Stud Farm to Newent. I had to go ahead driving another tractor to warn approaching traffic and take up position at these pinch points. Brother Alan and Joe following and keeping me in sight, then had to steer directly into the roadside hedge with the appliance raised above it and gradually negotiate the bend reversing back and forward in order to get round without damaging hedges, trees, telephone poles, buildings and the extension itself. 

Second: on site once the roof supports were positioned upright - the tractor was employed for that operation too - my job was to control the machine and raise the fitters - Bros. Alan & Joe - to the optimum height. Very careful skill was required to maintain their position and safety with my hand on the tractor's hydraulic control lever, while the engine was kept running to maintain the hydraulic pressure on which their lives depended. I should mention that Lawrence Curly Stanton was equipped with the same operating skills and was involved also. Father Bill Boyd stood by in silent prayer.

One of the funniest inventive Christmas achievements was when Brother Alan welded two pedal cycles together with a trailer-bar fixed between them. To this was attached a wheeled frame on which an armchair was positioned. "Heath" Garman and "Robinson" Carter then pedalled the contraption from the library through the school passage-way past the classrooms to the play hall entrance. Inside, all the priests, lay-brothers boys were gathered. The double doors opened, and to the sound of the tingling bike-bells, Father Christmas (Brother Thomas Docherty) was hauled into view. However, both cyclists had not synchronized their direction: Brother Alan steered right while Brother Joe steered left. The trailer bar sheared and "Santa" took a most undignified tumble while his "reindeer" wobbled about frantically and finally collided with each other.

Some time after that, in early Spring, following days of heavy rain, the Blaisdon brook overflowed. Even the Fifteen Acre Field, down the back drive, which was meant to be a water meadow safeguard, failed and backed up in flood. "Ma" Lane who lived in the cottage next to the bridge at the bottom of the village next to the redundant Old Mill, was in dire danger of being flooded out. Brother Alan - ever the engineer - opened the sluice to the empty mill race reservoir and once diverted there the water level dropped. Then Brother Joe deployed a pump in the brook: Brother Alan had earlier adapted it from ex-army equipment to be fixed to a tractor and driven from its power take-off. The worried widow was eventually safe, home and dry.

   By Tony Brady 1O OCTOBER 2008

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Who knows?  There may yet be more to come.  And there was, as we now have the final  part.

Brother Alan Garman SDB (5) - THE IRON - THE SILVER - THE GOLD

All his labours were a Mastership of Arts practiced with natural ease.
Brother Alan led a group of selected boys who, once a month on a Sunday morning, met together for about an hour in the Parlour after the second Mass. The group was known as The Sodality. The purpose of the group was to meet in prayer and attempt during the week to show a good example to their school companions. How they set about achieving their aims was stimulated in a talk by The Prefect of Religion: Father John Docherty (1950s). Most of the inspiration came from the priest's references to aspects of Don Bosco's life. The stress was not on appearing to be holier or of being of higher status than other boys but to attempt, as teachers would encourage youngsters today "to go that extra mile".

Due reverence in behavior while serving Mass or while engaged in other chapel rituals was an aim. Good sportsmanship in all the recreational games activities another. A willingness to assist on keeping the close living space clean and tidy and making an extra effort to keep the general open environment litter-free. Short visits to the Chapel were particularly encouraged. There, brief evocations were made before the statues of St. John Bosco, Mary Help of Christians or Saint Dominic Savio - the Salesian model placed before the youth of those days in Salesian schools worldwide. A few moments kneeling before the Tabernacle on the High Altar or a short meditation before one of the fourteen Stations of The Cross mounted on the walls of the Chapel. Mentoring all these practices was Brother Alan.

The Sodality was always openly acknowledged. Sometimes, when up to full strength, it would be formed into a football or cricket Team and play against the First Eleven or a team comprising priests and lay-brothers. You either agreed or not to join the Sodality after being approached by Father Docherty, The Prefect of Studies, or the Housemaster of any of the four Houses named after the saints: Alban, Fisher, a'Becket, More.

With Brother Alan's support, many a boy who was experiencing unsettling influences, became more confident in himself and was steadied by his mentoring and moral support. I was to meet many fellow Blaisdon Sodalists in later life and they bore testament to Brother Alan's understanding of their needs at a tender point in their development. None of us could qualify as Holy Joes - a mild term of abuse leveled at an overly pious boy in those distant days. Indeed, when I look at a 'photo I have of The Sodality in which I was a member in 1957, at least two of my chums served time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Nothing too serious: stealing biscuits was one offence albeit by the ton - lorry loads actually. Another was involved in a spot of GBH and house-breaking caused largely by being led astray by bad company. He took the rap for the real villains. Happily, when I last met them they were both totally reformed characters in stable relationships and with successfully reared children in good jobs. 

So ends what will never be my complete and fully satisfactory appreciation of Brother Alan Garman: a truly great Salesian. In his workshop he worked in iron, silver, gold and fashioned from those elements beautiful and lasting creations. From the base human raw material he moulded personalities and shaped the countless characters of Blaisdon boys. Scattered to all corners of the world - they are his monuments and his masterpieces

Seasons and the years mature:

yet all the while,

those iron truths endure

braced by that gentle smile 

shaped by your faith so pure.


Where once the sun's rays 

silvered Severn's spate,

I knew most glorious ways:

your guidance made my state

endurable in present days.


In selfless honour, duty, truth 

and kindness, you, teacher-friend,

laid out my golden path of youth.

Dear Brother, in appreciation I send 

these lines before the journey's end.



Tony Brady  31 December 2008

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Brother Alan - The Tutor

Fr Brian Jerstice has sent the following:

Rualink readers with Blaisdon connections might be interested to read the following titbit. The chapel of the brand new novitiate here in Tanzania (Morogoro) has a lovely electric sanctuary lamp adapted from a garden-type candle lantern, bought in UK and supported by a beautiful iron bracket made years ago by a Blaisdon boy, under the direction of Brother Alan Garman. The lectern is decorated with Alpha and Omega brass letters. The Omega was also made specially by Brother Alan a few 
years ago.

 Thank you Father Brian

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Brother Alan - The Friend  (A Personal Tribute  By Wayne Howe)

 My life, in Blaisdon, started one cold September night in a strange place that seemed alien to me.  But little did I know it was all going to change.

 My fist sight of Blaisdon Hall, my new school, came whilst being driven down a dark lane, with no street lights, and turning into an old yellow brick gate house.  Just as we drove over the first cattle grid there was my first, site of Blaisdon Hall.

 Then we approached the school and as we entered through the big double oak doors, we were greeted by Father Cavanagh and Brother Alan Garman.  From there we were taken upstairs to the ‘Intake Unit’, where the rest of the boys were getting settled in.

 After a couple of months, I was starting to miss my friends from home.  Brother Alan had noticed the change in me and that I was starting to feel sad.  From that moment and the actions taken by Brother Alan, my relationship with him developed to really settle my home sickness.  After a couple of years my relationship with Brother Alan developed further to become, for me, like that of a father and son.

 Brother Alan was aware that my Mum wasn't really bothered with me, when it came to school holidays.  As a result of this Brother Alan made arrangements with his sister for me to stay with her for part of my holidays: for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the summer holidays.  Then we would go down to St. David’s for 10 days, before going to my home for a week, and then back to Brother Alan’s sister, before finally returning to school at Blaisdon Hall.

 The years at Blaisdon Hall were very good to me.  I owe the joy I had there to the Salesian family, and especially to Brother Alan.   For this, the Salesian Family will always be very dear to my heart.

 After a couple of years I was Baptised and received my First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  For my Confirmation Brother Alan stepped in to be my God Father. For me, now, Brother Alan will always be a father to me.

    Wayne Howe  - Blaisdon Hall 1978-1984

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03June 2007   We wish Brother Alan Garman SDB, who will be 90 tomorrow a Very Happy 90th Birthday from all Blaisdon Old Boys and from The Friends of Blaisdon.