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Obituary - Celia Brigstocke


Celia Brigstocke died on Thursday 16th August 2018 aged 63 from a perforated bowel and brain cancer.

Celia was the driving force behind the John Bradburne Memorial Society (JBMS), which she founded with the late John Reid in 1996 in memory of her Uncle John, who was the late warden of Mutemwa Leprosy and Care Settlement in Zimbabwe.

Celia had a classic middle-class upbringing. Her father was a housemaster at Wellington College, whilst her mother Mary was heavily involved in artistic activities at the school.

She went to a succession of art schools and ended up with a Fine Art degree from Exeter College of Art and Design. She then pursued various artistic avenues, including photography, jewellery making and painting. She also ran a silk-steaming service.

In 1977 Celia married Tim Brigstocke, and their three daughters, Kate, Hannah and Laura shortly followed in 1979, 1981 and 1983.
Celia was a wonderful mother and home-maker, as well as an incredible granny to seven Grandchildren. People often refer to Celia as a kind, bubbly and welcoming person with no airs or graces.

Having been brought up in the Church of England, she converted to Catholicism in the mid-1990s following a visit to Zimbabwe. This became a very important part of her life.

The late Father John Dove SJ asked Celia and John Reid to set about raising money on a regular basis for Mutemwa which, given the political unrest in Zimbabwe, desperately needed regular funding to ensure that the patients and caring staff were fed and looked after properly. This became Celia's life work, and JBMS is a credit to her achievements.

It is equally heartening that, just before she died, officials appointed to take forward the cause for the beatification of John Bradburne visited the UK and had the opportunity to talk to her, as this was the hope she had cherished for many years.

Her funeral will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Milford, Godalming, GU8 5DU on Monday 10th September at 11am.

To find out more information about John Bradburne, please visit www.johnbradburne.com or alternatively please donate to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/johnbradburne

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