Newsletter  WDecember 2003

Friends of Bishop Seán Manchester

Messages: http://groups.msn.com/BishopSeanManchester

 

Friends of Bishop Seán Manchester (FoBSM): http://groups.msn.com/306355ti7igqihflhecik1cab4

 

 

DIANA BREWESTER

 

+Seán Manchester's London Secretary and friend, Diana.

 

IT IS WITH GREAT SORROW THAT WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF DIANA BREWESTER

 

Bishop Seán Manchester’s London Secretary, Diana Brewester, passed away in the days running up to Christmas 2003. She was a wonderfully kind-spirited person who gave generously of her time and immense knowledge on matters of mutual interest. She was an executive member of the BOS and the VRS (both presided over by +Seán Manchester) and was a leading light of the Highgate Byron Society. Her enthusiastic support for a wide spectrum of +Seán Manchester’s projects over the years made her an invaluable member of the team. Her extensive knowledge embraced opera, literature and the arts. She was especially fond of Wagner’s music and the poetry of Lord Byron. Diana was acquainted with many eminent people throughout her life, but none were shown the devotion and loyalty she afforded to Bishop Seán Manchester. Her self-effacing modesty in all she did was something that endeared her to many. Though she had abandoned Christianity in her youth for paganism, when she met +Seán Manchester in the early 1980s she returned to the fold and became a member of Ecclesia Apostolica Jesu Christi. She later supported the Society of St George. From 1984, Diana was Bishop Seán Manchester’s London Secretary and Personal Assistant. When she was diagnosed with cancer in the latter half of 2003, she showed amazing courage and continued to be cheerful.  Diana was always great fun, and never more so than in company. She will be missed by everyone who knew her; whether fleetingly for a few moments or more fortunately across the duration of years.

 

To read Bishop Seán Manchester’s personal obituary to Diana Brewester click on any of the images on this webpage.

 

“I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Diana Brewester. Life is enriched by the presence of such people and if the world seems a little colder and a little darker by their passing, we must consider ourselves privileged to have known them. My thoughts are with you at this time.”

 

~ Peter Underwood

 

Diana is seated on the far left of this picture. +Seán Manchester is standing third from the right.

 

                                                                        They scarcely waked before they slept,

                                                                        They scarcely wept before they laughed;

                                                                        They drank indeed death’s bitter draught,

                                                                        But all its bitterest dregs were kept

                                                                        And drained by Mothers whilst they wept.

 

                                                                        From Heaven the speechless Infants speak:

                                                                        Weep not (they say), our Mothers dear,

                                                                        For swords nor sorrows come not here.

                                                                        Now we are strong who were so weak,

                                                                        And all is ours we could not seek.

 

                                                                        We bloom among the blooming flowers,

                                                                        We sing among the singing birds;

                                                                        Wisdom we have who wanted words:

                                                                        Here morning knows not evening hours,

                                                                        All’s rainbow here without the showers.

 

                                                                        And softer than our Mother’s breast,

                                                                        And closer than our Mother’s arm,

                                                                        Is here the Love that keeps us warm

                                                                        And broods above our happy nest.

                                                                        Dear Mothers, come: for Heaven is best.

 

        (Christina Rossetti)

 

 

     

 

      Diana Brewester 1944-2003

 

     REQUIESCAT + IN + PACE