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Obituaries
FATHER T.VINCENT SMITH.
By his brother Fr Bert Taylor
Fr Smith’s death occurred to soon before going to press for us to be able to
carry any more than an outline of his life and ministry.
If we receive a fuller obituary, it will follow in our next edition.
Fr Vincent Smith died of a coronary thrombosis on September 2nd. Five days previously he had celebrated his golden jubilee and had seemed in good form. He was born 1 November 1928 in Fleetwood. He was educated at St. Mary's and St Wulstan's Primary Schools, Fleetwood, St Joseph's, Blackpool, Leyland Motors Technical College and Bolton Institute of Higher Education. Following studies for the priesthood at Upholland Junior Seminary and the Venerable English College, Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on 9 April 1955, in Rome.
Following ordination, he was appointed Assistant Priest to St Gregory, Preston (1955-58) and St Augustine, Preston (1958-59). He then worked for the Catholic Missionary Society (1959-64) before returning to the diocese and taking up appointments at Holy Trinity & St. George, Kendal (1964-65), Joseph, Wesham (1966), St Anthony, Preston (1967-68), St. John Vianney, Blackpool (1968-71).
Father Vincent served as Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul, Preston (1971-79), St Mary, Egremont (1979-86) and St Mary, Fernyhalgh (1986-2005). He had just retired to St. Gregory's, Preston, when he died unexpectedly.
PROFESSOR SIR JOSEPH ROTBLATT F.R.S.
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE
Derek Longmire - Kendal
Sir Joseph Rotblat, founder and principal motivator of the Pugwash organisation, died on August 31st. 2005 aged 96. He was one of the scientists recruited to build the atomic bombs in the Manhattan project. His involvement in the inventing the atomic bomb was, he said, because he was afraid that Hitler might use it first. He resigned from the project in 1944 as a matter of conscience as soon as it became obvious that Germant was not going to be able to make a bomb. He was horrified when he learned that a bomb had been used at Hiroshima and he devoted the rest of his life to radiation medicine and to the abolition of nuclear weapons and war itself.
He was signatory of the 1955 Russell/Einstein manifesto telling the world to “Remember your humanity”. Out of a meeting in Pugwash, Canada in 1957, a meeting involving scientists from both sides of the Iron Curtain, grew the Pugwash Organisation. Every year since then, a meeting has been held. The representatives are not Government individuals but impeccable scientists with no political bias. It is trusted by Governments and provided the groundwork for several important treaties under Sir Joseph’s guidance. President Gorbachev attributed the success of his disarmament initiatives in part to the Pugwash Conference.
In the last few years, Professor Rotblat started a campaign in cooperation with other peace organisations. He pointed out that the danger of nuclear war is still with us and increasing. Thus, the Movement for the Abolition of War came into existence. Without the personal inspiration and dedication of Professor Rotblatt, it is doubtful whether this and other organisations would have begun to raise public awareness.
Professor Rotblat will be remembered for his personal warmth, his tireless dedication and his enthusiasm for a war-free world. Those who want to remember his memory can do two things. Join the Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) MAW (North) Derek Longmire, Greyhound House , Kendal LA9 6PF, or or make a donation to the archiving of his papers, (£15 individual or £5 unwaged) at Pugwash, 63A Great Russell St. (Ground Floor Flat) WC1 3BJ
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