Sean Devereux - A life given for Africa by Michael Delmer
The Salesians have a long history of service in Gloucestershire, part of the northern section of Clifton Diocese.
For many years they had a college at Beckford as well as their training school at Blaisdon Hall where many readers will recall retreat days in past years. Both of these places have closed but the Salesians still run the parish at Newent in Gloucestershire and until recently had a priest attached to St Peter's in Gloucester.
You could have heard a pin drop when Michael Delmer spoke to over a thousand people who had gathered for the annual carol service at the Salesian College in Farnborough. Michael Delmer is a Salesian Brother from Thornleigh Park in Bolton. Why were the audience so captivated? Michael had enthralled them with stories from a book he had written about Sean Devereux, a former pupil at the school.
Sean was a 28 year old aid worker when he was gunned down in Somalia in 1993. He had been working on the missions in Liberia and for the United Nations in Somalia. Organising education, care of the poor and more effective distribution of food aid were just some of his achievements. A passionate opponent of the illegal arms trade he was killed by bullets from a foreign rifle.
Michael Delmer knew and taught Sean when he was head teacher of the Farnborough College. Michael has since retired from teaching and he now cares for the elderly Salesians at their Bolton retirement home. He has spent several years collecting material about Sean.
Born in Camberley, Sean’s parents originated from Ireland and he had an elder sister, Theresa, and a younger, Tanya. His father, who died after Sean’s death, worked for British Airways as a Cabin Crew Manager. He was well known for his enthusiastic support for deserving causes and he supported the building of an orphanage in Bangladesh during his spare time.
After graduating from Birmingham University, Sean taught for a while at the Salesian school at Chertsey before starting his work for those less fortunate than himself. This took him to Salesian missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia. After his effective food distribution programme in Liberia antagonised the local warlords he went to work for the UN in Somalia where he met his end.
"Perhaps he was just a bit too direct in his opinions" one Salesian told me. "After all, if you want to achieve results in most things at the end of the day you probably have to compromise" Sean didn’t share this opinion and his forthright views about the arms trade could well have been the reason for a contract killer shooting him down.
Whilst in Africa, Sean inspired many people with his enthusiasm, hard work and dedication to improving the lot of those who had little or nothing. The Liberian post office issued a stamp dedicated to him and his sister, Theresa, set up a charity which has maintained some of Sean’s work in Liberia. Known on the missions as "Mr. Sean", his example has led to TV programmes being made which showed his tremendous determination to fight for what is right on behalf of those who cannot fight themselves.
"Sean Devereux, a life given for Africa" may be ordered from Don Bosco Publications, Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ, telephone 01204 308811 at the price of £7.00 including post and packing.
David Burke
Useful URL : http://www.don-bosco-publications.co.uk
For many years they had a college at Beckford as well as their training school at Blaisdon Hall where many readers will recall retreat days in past years. Both of these places have closed but the Salesians still run the parish at Newent in Gloucestershire and until recently had a priest attached to St Peter's in Gloucester.
You could have heard a pin drop when Michael Delmer spoke to over a thousand people who had gathered for the annual carol service at the Salesian College in Farnborough. Michael Delmer is a Salesian Brother from Thornleigh Park in Bolton. Why were the audience so captivated? Michael had enthralled them with stories from a book he had written about Sean Devereux, a former pupil at the school.
Sean was a 28 year old aid worker when he was gunned down in Somalia in 1993. He had been working on the missions in Liberia and for the United Nations in Somalia. Organising education, care of the poor and more effective distribution of food aid were just some of his achievements. A passionate opponent of the illegal arms trade he was killed by bullets from a foreign rifle.
Michael Delmer knew and taught Sean when he was head teacher of the Farnborough College. Michael has since retired from teaching and he now cares for the elderly Salesians at their Bolton retirement home. He has spent several years collecting material about Sean.
Born in Camberley, Sean’s parents originated from Ireland and he had an elder sister, Theresa, and a younger, Tanya. His father, who died after Sean’s death, worked for British Airways as a Cabin Crew Manager. He was well known for his enthusiastic support for deserving causes and he supported the building of an orphanage in Bangladesh during his spare time.
After graduating from Birmingham University, Sean taught for a while at the Salesian school at Chertsey before starting his work for those less fortunate than himself. This took him to Salesian missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia. After his effective food distribution programme in Liberia antagonised the local warlords he went to work for the UN in Somalia where he met his end.
"Perhaps he was just a bit too direct in his opinions" one Salesian told me. "After all, if you want to achieve results in most things at the end of the day you probably have to compromise" Sean didn’t share this opinion and his forthright views about the arms trade could well have been the reason for a contract killer shooting him down.
Whilst in Africa, Sean inspired many people with his enthusiasm, hard work and dedication to improving the lot of those who had little or nothing. The Liberian post office issued a stamp dedicated to him and his sister, Theresa, set up a charity which has maintained some of Sean’s work in Liberia. Known on the missions as "Mr. Sean", his example has led to TV programmes being made which showed his tremendous determination to fight for what is right on behalf of those who cannot fight themselves.
"Sean Devereux, a life given for Africa" may be ordered from Don Bosco Publications, Thornleigh House, Sharples Park, Bolton BL1 6PQ, telephone 01204 308811 at the price of £7.00 including post and packing.
David Burke
Useful URL : http://www.don-bosco-publications.co.uk
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