‘How could one of the peace movement’s most prominent ?gures be roughing it with the rest of us?’

MY FIRST memory of Bruce is of seeing him on a ferry crossing to Malmo, Sweden, in the late 1980s, when we were both on our way to a conference on development and peace. I was too shy to speak to him. Later I discovered that he was staying at the same simple hostel as I was. How could one of the most prominent figures in the international peace movement be roughing it with the rest of us? I was working for Cafod at the time and knew that Bruce had been pressing development agencies to take the links between poverty and war more seriously. Our paths crossed again at various peace events. Then in 1989 he called me out of the blue. Pax Christi was looking for a general secretary. Had I considered applying? I was astonished that Bruce had thought of me. I got the job and Bruce, with Valerie, supported and encouraged me over 30 years. Always a great tease, he would often ring the office and ask to speak to Reverend Mother.