A Tribute by Tony Brady

David Bastable, “Bastable not Barnstable” was what he used to say, was a true lover of all things Salesian. Indeed, I believe that he was a Salesian manqué. That is to say he would have been a Salesian had he had the vocation. In his working life he must have moved about and worked in all the Salesian houses in the Province from the 1950s to the 1970s in the capacity of general handyman, cook & bottle-washer, not forgetting his abilities as an electrician. He learned that skill from Brother Jan Oserik whom he never failed to praise and acknowledge a life long debt to. During my time at Blaisdon( School 1 952-1955), Stud Farm (1955-1961), he was number two to Brother Edward Baron in domestic service to the Community Refectory.

Always a dealer in ‘crodge’, etc. I bought my first radio from him in 1954. It had come his way as scrap and he had repaired it. It never let me down and I passed it on in sound working condition when I left Stud Farm in January 1961. I last saw David in Blaisdon in the late 1980s. He had it own workshop in what had been the tailoring room and was the general handyman. On the wall was a picture of Pope Pius the 10th whose name was Guiseppe Sarto. Sarto is Latin for tailor - hence the word sartorial.

David pointed out the link and its appropriateness to the setting and memories of his being taught tailoring and said that he often prayed for the now late Brother Gerald who was one in a line of Salesian tailors. The room was an Aladdin’s Cave, cum Old Curiosity Shop.

David came to Blaisdon via The Oratory in Birmingham where sadly he had been abused by his carers, - this all came out later in the spate of abuse scandals ad nauseum - that we are all too sadly familiar with. The Salesian influence - in so far as it could-- had healed most of the long term psychological wounds and David was at peace with himself and he told me that he owed everything good in his life to the Salesians. It was a very moving hour or so that I spent with him. His devotion to the memory of so many priests and lay-brothers he had known was inspiring. This all came about when he learned that I had been a professional social worker.

I felt privileged that David had confided in me. David did work for a time a outside the Salesian sphere: this was at The Wagon Works in Gloucester -a major employer for the maintenance, repair and making of steam trains for The Great Western Railway and world-wide railway companies. He was thus able to keep in touch closely with the Salesians at Blaisdon and he also formed a connection with the monks at Prinknash Abbey.

“Life is not what one lived, but what one remembers and how one remembers in order to account it,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"Well Done David - Thou good and faithful Servant!”

Tony Brady

The Mass and burial service sheet:

Today we put David Bastable to rest in the Salesian Grave at Morden. Today we were privileged to be part of the Salesians' salute to David Bastable at his burial Mass in the Battersea Salesian Parish Church and after at his internment in the Salesian grave at Morden. The Salesians gave Dave a wonderful send off and Fr. Sean Murray gave an effusive commentary on what David had done for the Blaisdon and later Battersea Salesian Houses, during his homily. Of course the Salesians had done much for David, a Blaisdon Past Pupil, as they became his only family and provided Dave the only home he had during these times, for which Blaisdon Past Pupils are very grateful. There were fourteen Salesian Priests concelebrating at the Mass for David
and many of these were also at the graveside for the committal.

As we were waiting at the graveside for the coffin to be brought from the hearse it was very windy and a dead branch was blown down from the tree above where some of us were standing and hit our President, Charlie Springett, on his head, to the amusement of many of us. It seemed that David was having a final chuckle with Charles, or had some sort of message for him. Charles was not hurt but like the rest of us was highly amused at our comments.

Customarily we sing the "Salve Regina" at the Blaisdon Salesian Grave at each visit. At David's graveside we sang another beautiful hymn we learned at St Joseph' and at Blaisdon "Regina Caeli". To remind you:

Regina Caeli laettare! alleluia

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia

Ressurrexit sicut dixit; alleluia

Ora pro nobis Deum; alleluia

May David Rest in Peace.
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Regina Caeli laettare! alleluia

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia

Ressurrexit sicut dixit; alleluia

Ora pro nobis Deum; alleluia

May David Rest in Peace.
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