Person:William Buckley (25)

BROTHER RAYMOND JAMES (William Buckley) He was born on 25 September, 1874, in Frankford. Co. Offaly, Ireland and died on 18 December, 1952, aged 78 years in St Helens, Lancashire, England. He had spent 60 years in religious life. William Buckley was born in a region of Ireland which produced many Lasallian vocations. When he was 15 years old, he left Ireland, crossed the English Channel and went to the Junior Novitiate in Paris. In 1889, he sent to the Senior Novitiate and became Brother Raymond James. On his return to Ireland, he spent his Scholasticate in Castletown. From 1895- 1897, he studied for the Teachers Certificate at De La Salle Training College Waterford. Later on in life, he added the qualification of Bachelor of Science from London University. At the beginning of his teaching career, Raymond changed communities frequently. From 1900 to 1915 he went to Bagnelstown, Ardee, St. Joseph's College Beulah Hill (twice), St. Joseph's Academy Blackheath (four times), St. Helens and Castlebar- 10 Communities in 15 years! Then in 1916, he settled down to 10 years in St. Joseph's Academy, Blackheath, and this was followed by 13 years at De La Salle College, Sheffield. Finally he went to St. Helens where he spent the rest of his life, from 1939 to 1952. Although he was very intelligent and highly qualified, Raymond gave up teaching due to a physical deformity known as Kyphosis with which he develop in childhood. (Kyphosis refers to an abnormal and often painful curvature of the spine which results in a hunchback.) Raymond spent most of his apostolic life in the office. Raymond was a good Community man, amiable, reliable and generous. He was a hard worker in the Community and the school, and he got on well with the pupils. He was Community Bursar and Procurator and he was most meticulous in keeping the house accounts, and an account of his own personal expenditure. He was the Clerk to the Governors of the School and he was faithful in keeping up correspondence with the different local authorities who sent pupils to the Brothers' school and with the Education Ministry in London. Well informed about all education matters concerning the school, he was able to respond to any questions immediately. He achieved this facility by using a unique and ingenious filing system on index cards. He wanted to reduce to the minimum any embarrassment for his successor in the event of his sudden death. When he became old and ill, he was forced to remain in his room. More than once, the Brothers came to his room to visit him after prayers in the Chapel, to find Raymond just finishing the same spiritual exercises which the Community had just made. Right to the end Raymond remained faithful to his post. During the night before his death, he made out the wages of the lay teachers. Raymond never complained about his physical suffering. He was a good man with whom to live with. He had a sense of humour; he was a good conversationalist with the young and with the old. He had a fund of ordinary common sense which he applied to the many unexpected situations which arose in his life. He died in St Helens on 18th December 1952. The people of St. Helens gave him an impressive funeral celebration. Then his body was taken to Kintbury, Berkshire, and buried in the Brothers’ cemetery attached to the Inglewood Community.

RIN: MH:N1746

PRIN: MH:I500204