I first met George on an interview panel for a job as chaplain at South London Chaplaincy, The interview took place in an upper room in Bermondsey and on arriving I discovered the entry was by way of scaling a two storey fire escape between two buildings. As I walked through the door I came face to face with George, wearing a napkin tucked into his collar and eating a plate of plain, stone-cold pasta. At that point I decided the interview couldn't get much stranger, relaxed and decided to be myself. Later I realised this was one of George's great gifts. He was always completely himself, with no airs and graces, and this made it possible for others to be themselves around him. One of George's catchphrases was "Lo mejor por el Senor!" (the best for the Lord), something he used to repeat often to the students in encouraging them to give themselves totally to God.

After working so many years in Peru, poverty was something George took seriously, though he lived this quietly and with no fuss. I had known him a year before discovering that he owned just two pairs of trousers and saw no reason to acquire more than that. He spent little on himself but was always generous to others, often taking me out for a Chinese meal and refusing to go halves on the bill. George's sermons were legendary, both in content and length, and I often complained that the shared supper after Mass would be burnt to a crisp (it never was). When I left London, George insisted on giving me a very generous financial gift  and for many years telephoned me on August 11th, my feast day. I have never forgotten his kindness, his heart and his commitment to service. George had a great devotion to St Rose of Lima and I have no doubt that she was at the Gate to greet him on his arrival home on 29 December.

The Lord really does have the best now you're there, George. I'll be seeing you.

Claire (lay chaplain, South London Chaplaincy, 2001-2003)