Will honoured for his dedication to St Cassian’s

On Monday 1st September St. Cassian’s celebrated William Harper’s retirement.  

Will has been a stalwart of the St. Cassian’s community for over a decade, seeing many Brothers, volunteer teams and young people through the centre.  

We were grateful on the day to be joined by Br. Michael Curran and Br. John Deeney from Oxford, who presented Will with his retirement gifts (a small chainsaw amongst other things). We celebrated with an afternoon tea at lunchtime with all the house staff and volunteers.  

Will’s work as groundskeeper here uplifts an important part of the work the retreat centre does. Keeping a peaceful and beautifully kept environment helps retreatants find God’s presence in the environment around them and not only helps us understand more about God’s creations but also brings us to a place where we can find peace.  

Will is known for creating extravagantly large bonfires, bringing (sometimes) hilarious stories to the tearoom at staff breaktimes, and having a wealth of knowledge that is always dependable. His presence will be missed by all who work and live in the centre.  

Emma Biggins, Director of the Centre, said: “After 17 happy years, we thank you, William, for your dedication and service to St. Cassian’s Centre. Your jokes and stories have kept us smiling, and we will miss seeing you bobbing around on the lawn mower. You have made a huge impression on all the teams who you have worked with, and we will miss you.” 

We pray for and hope that Will has a great time in retirement and never forgets the gratitude St. Cassian’s Centre has had for him for many years.