IT was at Prescot
Grammar School that our paths first crossed, I
was an uncertain teenager and he my Latin Master.
I soon benefited from his love for his subject;
his commitment to even the most difficult tasks -
myself, for example - from his knowledge and
understanding a nd his earnest enthusiasm to
communicate them both - and all this along with a
special type of humour, waving finger and
penetrating gaze. I remember well as a Vth former
sitting at the back of one of his classes for the
Third year as we were short of Classics staff. My
friend, Luke Mitchell, and I were struggling with
the intricacies of Latin syntax under Gilbert's
watchful gaze. At one moment, Luke pointed out an
amusing juxtaposition of Latin phrases and we
smiled and laughed a little. "Mitchell and
Roberts," said Gilbert with an ironic smile,
"studying is not supposed to be
enjoyable!"
In his influence of us, he did not limit himself
to his subject. I remember his recommending to us
a book, The "Story of San Michele" by
Axel Munthe. I acquired it, read it and read
more. This was the awakening of my mind. Such was
Gilbert's influence and power as an educator.
I left the School in the fifties but returned in
the early sixties as a colleague to teach French,
German and Russian. Gilbert, immediately and with
great ease and warmth, took over the role of
colleague, giving advice and much needed
encouragement both of which became features of
our continuing acquaintance to become, in time, a
special friendship.
It was during this time that I learnt of
Gilbert's Masonic involvement and, with him as an
example, I became a Freemason myself. One of
hundreds of quotations which Gilbert collected
and recorded is, 'One of the nicest things that
can happen to one is to be honoured by one's
fellow men.'All his brethren in Goodacre Lodge
and the Pharus Chapter recognised the qualities
of brotherly love, relief and truth which he
possessed in plenty: they honoured him
accordingly.
They are here now to regret the passing of
departed merit. It is a comment on his love for
others that, despite his own discomfort, he
visited Mrs Papworth for the best part of two
years. The most important aspect of my knowing
Gilbert, however, was the friendship he bore me
and which I returned with gratitude.
So long as we love, we serve.
So long as we are loved by others, we are
indispensable
And no man is useless while he has a friend.
These words Gilbert himself penned
in the most beautiful script and the style of
medieval times. This was another feature of his
talents. Visiting him at home and in hospital, I
shared the sadnesses he experienced at the losses
within his immediate family: a rare sharing
experience because he revealed little of his
emotions to but few. Gilbert had an encyclopaedic
knowledge and he leaves an extensive library. He
collected magazines, newspapers, cigarette cards,
stamps and photo-graphs: All are systematically
and meaningfully Catalogued. They tell a
fascinating tale of a fascinating person. He
would quote liberally, yet always appropriately,
from a vast range of cultured sources:
Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Longfellow, Omar
Khyam etcetera. And all this was flavoured and
enlightened by a delicious and special sense of
humour, inimitable and strikingly effective.
How I shall miss him! How I shall
miss my visits. I have been privileged to be his
friend and I am the better person for it. The
world is a better place for his having been here.
|