India: More than 100,000 mourn Brother James Kimpton FSC

Br James Kimpton FSC,

Brother James Kimpton FSC, died last Thursday at the age 92, at Reaching the Unreached, the organisation he founded in the small village of Kallupatti in India. For more than 65 years, he has made a difference to the lives and wellbeing of countless destitute children and families in the rural villages of southern India and Sri Lanka in which he has given a lifetime of service to the very poorest people. Rarely can a single person have touched so many lives in such a positive way.

Attended by Ian Brady, Director of De Paul International and Chair of Reaching the Unreached in the UK, the funeral was held on Saturday within two days of Brother James' death, In that time more than 100,000 rural villagers from all over Tamil Nadu and former orphaned children raised in the Children's Villages at Reaching the Unreached (and now in professional careers all over India) have flocked to pay their respects, as have Government leaders and senior figures from all walks of life. To them he was a living God and shrines have sprung up throughout the area as though a national leader has died.

Girish Menon, CEO of ActionAid UK, who was previously Deputy Director of Reaching the Unreached in India writes: "He taught me the values of humanity, of love, of caring and of empathising with those who are the most poorest and marginalised. I have never met a man like him - his dedication and commitment to serving the poor was unparalleled. He was a man of many talents and a fundraiser par excellence for the causes he believed in. He left England as a young man and ended up living for over 65 years, initially in Sri Lanka and then in Tamil Nadu. I had the incredible privilege of working with him and spending a long time in various conversations with him and being in awe of his compassion and perseverance."

Brother James is buried in the small cemetery at Anbu Ilam, the first Children's Village he built, amongst the graves of the children who were too malnourished when they were bought in to survive or later, died of AIDS. Kimpton often quoted: "Much of what we do is like planting trees, under whose shade we may never sit but plant we must." He leaves a thriving organisation entirely run by an Indian board and staff, many of whom have been raised at Reaching the Unreached and have worked alongside Kimpton for many years. They will continue to plant trees wherever they are needed.

OBITUARY

Brother James Kimpton, 23rd May 1925 – 5th October 2017

Brother James Kimpton (aka Brother Lionel) has died in India, aged 92. Rarely can a single person have touched so many lives in such a positive way. Through his vision, energy and loving actions he brought better futures to thousands of children and families over a lifetime of service to the poorest people in south India. He has left the legacy of a well-respected and immensely effective Indian-run organisation – Reaching the Unreached – based in a small village north-west of Madurai.

Born in north Wales, he grew up in Chester alongside three brothers and a sister. At the age of only 14, James applied to join the De La Salle Brothers, a Catholic lay teaching order. From 1947 he taught at St Peter's School, Bournemouth (where his subsequent work is still actively supported). After making his final vows in 1952 he taught in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), and set up a School of Printing for deaf and blind boys – printing was one of many skills he acquired over his career.

In 1964 the Ceylon government expelled foreigners, and Brother James moved to Madurai, in south India. He built a 'Boys' Town' (an industrial training school giving a trade to destitute boys). During this time he studied mechanical engineering and child-care back in the UK. In 1974 he moved north- west, and established a Boys' Village (for 100 younger boys) which he ran until 1985.

One Sunday in 1975 he was asked to care for four orphans – including girls – whose widowed father had starved to death. The way to help became clear – hire a foster mother – and the organisation he named Reaching the Unreached (RTU) was born in a tiny village. RTU now cares for almost 1000 disadvantaged children, with the oldest being supported through college. There are now more than 60 foster family groups living in four 'Children's Villages', plus seven 'hostels' for teenagers and high- performing schools. Finance for the work has come from both secular and religious sources around the world, and in 1978 some UK friends set up a charity (with the same name) that is now a key funder.

Brother James always sought to respond to every human need he encountered, with a special focus on the very poorest. So Reaching the Unreached, which he ran until well into his eighties, has provided medical care, built more than 8700 family houses, and drilled more than 2400 community wells. And much more! Brother's skills developed alongside the needs – he was a qualified dowser, he designed buildings and he painted. He combined the technical skills needed to direct and manage operations as large as RTU, with the compassion to make certain that the organisations were imbued with values that always put the beneficiary first.

Brother set the highest standards of integrity and commitment for himself, and he certainly expected it from others. Like many leaders he was not always easy to work with, but most - perhaps all - respected him, and many loved and admired him. Over recent years he has handed over to an entirely Indian team, led by a Capuchin Friar. But now all at RTU will feel bereft at the loss of their inspiration and guiding light, and the children will mourn their 'Thatha-ji' (honoured grandfather).

Brother James' spiritual resource was deeply Christian: he depended on prayer and regular Mass to maintain his living out of the Gospel. And Brother James Kimpton has undoubtedly transformed the lives of many through his dedicated and loving Christian service. He liked to quote the words of Jesus: "Whoever welcomes a little child welcomes me" and in doing this he found his fulfilment.

Brother James Kimpton 23rd May 1925 – 5th October 2017