Pat Gaffney pays tribute to Bruce Kent during Concert for Peace

Bruce Kent . Image ICN

Pat Gaffney, former General Secretary of Pax Christi gave this tribute to Bruce Kent during an orchestral concert at St James Church, Piccadilly, on 25 May, presented jointly by Musicians for Peace and disarmament, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Movement for the Abolition of War and Pax Christi to commemorate the first anniversary of Bruce Kent's death on 8 June 2022.

I very much appreciate this opportunity to help remember the life and work of Bruce Kent and in particular his work with and support for Musicians for Peace and Disarmament, Pax Christi , CND, Movement for the Abolition of War

I have it on good authority that Bruce's musical education was rather limited. During the formative years of his life, Bruce was tucked away in a Seminary, and then in a various presbyteries in London, with little exposure to music. Who, for example, could have missed out on the phenomena that were The Sound of Music in 1965? How wonderful then that in later years he became such a supporter and follower of MANA and its talented, generous musicians and conductors whose energy and vigour we experience tonight.

I recall attending several planning meetings with Bruce for a major event at Westminster Central Hall. These were hosted by the ever gracious Joan Horrocks, co-founder of MANA and the unflappable Laurie Bielby. Their incredible network of musicians, soloists and conductors and their ability to create fund-raising events in support of peace - to the tune of around £75,000 - have been a life-saver for many of our organisations, and this support continues tonight.

Bruce was an enabler and mentor, whether that was with organisations or individuals and was especially generous in the time he gave to young people. From his days as a university Chaplain to bringing young people together for international peace events to speaking at school assemblies, Bruce was able to engage young people in serious issues. His humour and sense of fun crossed the generation gap. Writing after his death one person remembered: 'Bruce spoke at my school and I became an activist.' How many more activists must have evolved through contact with Bruce? Perhaps some of you are here tonight?

In the late 1960s Bruce became Chaplain to Pax Christi, the international Catholic Movement for Peace. He was well placed to tap into the enthusiasm of young people introducing them to international gatherings and campaigning. In its early days, the work of the British section of Pax Christ (now Pax Christi England and Wales) involved campaigning for the rights of conscientious objectors in Europe and beyond and challenging the impact of the arms trade on the poorest. The movement also saw the value of helping young people develop critical thinking skills through peace education. To secure the work Bruce spotted the talents of Valerie Flessati who became the first General Secretary of Pax Christi. While these issues continue to be a focus, the place of active nonviolence in effecting lasting change and building solidarity with peacemakers in Palestine and Israel are part of PCEW agenda today. PCEW knows how important it is to have a network of lay people who can apply the moral teaching of the church to the concerns of the day AND nudge the 'official' church towards a more fulsome commitment to opposing war and proposing nonviolence as a more successful approach to security.

Bruce became a member of CND just two years after its foundation in 1958, so his association with the organisation spans an amazing 62 years. Across those years CND has campaigned on every era of nuclear weapons: Polaris, cruise, Trident and tactical nuclear weapons and has now embarked on a new campaign to oppose the re-introduction of US nuclear weapons at Lakenheath. In each of era Bruce gave talks, embarked on international walks, took part in radio and TV interviews and debates, wrote articles - always expressing with clarity and persuasion the case for nuclear disarmament.

Who would have imagined that one whose musical education was rather limited would one day be on the main stage at Glastonbury? In 1981, he was approached by Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury music festival. Michael reported: 'I called up Bruce Kent, who was always in the papers, and asked if CND would like to be involved… The idea was that they'd help promote us and we'd give them the proceeds and rename it the Glastonbury CND Festival.' For many years, Bruce was a speaker on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, calling on the imagination, energy and campaigning will of thousands of people

Writing of Bruce, Kate Hudson said: "His leadership of CND in the 1980s was the embodiment of integrity, creativity and sheer determination. …his intolerance of flannel, and total commitment to his faith and principles, made him a leader of our movement beyond compare."

The Movement for the Abolition of War is another Bruce initiated project. This was born out of the Time to Abolish War peace conference in London in 1999 to mark the centenary of the 1899 Hague Peace. Open to all who want to end war, not just to pacifists, MAW has worked to unmask the militarism that runs deep in our society. Through education, public events, resources, music, MAW works to encourage the belief that things can change, if we have the will to change them. It was through Bruce and Valerie and others that an engagement with the Imperial War Museum came about. Several of the annual MAW lectures and Peace History Conferences were held there. And more recently, MAW has led the way in making the connections between war and climate change with its educational DVD Conflict and Climate, and its participation in 2021 COP gathering in Glasgow and other climate events.

While offering personal support to each of our organisations, Bruce challenged us all to look for the connections between the realities of war and poverty and climate injustice and to work cooperatively wherever possible, just as we are doing tonight.

I am going to conclude with some words from a poem by the Welsh poet and campaigner Mererid Hopwood. She wrote this after Bruce's death and read it at the planting of a tree in Finsbury Park in memory of Bruce in March. They capture the kindness, the passion and the energy of the man.

We borrowed Bruce,

and learnt how hope
is not a crossing-of-fingers,

not a wish,

but a will

that lingers past the longest night,

until it blasts a beam through the seam of darkness,

lifting the heaviest fright

now made light by love.

So, today, what d'you say?

Shall we unsigh our souls,

throw away the chains,

and follow the path he lent us,

until peace reigns?

For the mind

behind the bright brow

knew

that the time

is now,

and that

... 'we bloody well ought to get on with it!'

Thank you.

A second concert dedicated to Bruce Kent will be held in his home parish of St Mellitus Church, Tollington Park, London N4 3AG. London, on Sunday 11 June. Donations on the door £10 (£5 concs). Profits will go to Progressing Prisoners Maintaining Innocence, an organisation that was close to Bruce's heart.