Brother Alexander became one of our dearest friends at Ampleforth. He was, and is, a great inspiration. He came to our prayer group meetings in the village church and at our home and often played the violin for our family whilst Lady, our dog, sat next to him and snuggled up to him on the couch. It might be noted that ONLY Brother Alex spoiled Lady on this point for she knew that the family would NEVER allow her to place one paw anywhere near any couch. On one of these beautiful days, we were praying together in a small group one evening in our home. The prayer was Spirit filled and calming. I had a picture in my mind of someone handing Alex a red rose and said this to him as we prayed. I was asked to repeat this by him and so I told him that I saw a hand passing on a rose to him. He went quite quiet and whispered, “We must talk later.”
When the others left, I could see he was intrigued and asked me to repeat again what I saw. I did so, for the umpteenth time and Alex told me that, prior to coming to join us in prayer that evening, he had gone to the Lady Chapel in the College and asked for guidance on whether he should become a priest. His words were, “If anyone hands me a red rose today, I will know you want me to become a priest.” Alex had always felt he was not worthy of such an honour because he was illegitimate and had been fostered to a family in Liverpool.
Thank God he listened and is now a priest, still at Ampleforth where he is greatly involved in the Schola Cantorum and teaching Spanish and French.
We were very happy that he joined us on our trip to Foggia and Pietrelcina and played his violin in the crypt in the Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino during our tour.
It may have been sometime during this trip, when Alex and the family stayed with Stella Lilley in Whitstable, that she was invited to visit Ampleforth. When she did however, it was not all sweetness and light! She was shocked by some of the posters she saw in the boys’ rooms and suggested that an evening rosary be started. It was and this went on for some time many students attending. It was Alex that made sure that it happened because of his great devotion to Our Lady.
When I left Ampleforth, Alex joined me in driving across France, Switzerland and Italy to our destination in Sicily where we caught a boat to Malta.
Much happened on this journey. We stopped in San Giovanni Rotondo for a few days and Alex celebrated mass in the Crypt. This was a prayerful time with long walks and the customary Italian good food.
In Reggio di Calabria, which Alex felt was ‘not redeemed’ we met up with two weird police, one of whom was a female. They continually followed us all the way to the moment we embarked on a boat for Malta. I noticed a white stain on my bumper which could not be removed. I was told it could be a message from the local Mafia suggesting they had put something under my car or that I should be left alone. Who knows?
In Malta, Alex stayed at a friend’s hotel, very reluctantly may I add as it was rather luxurious. He celebrated mass in many places, and we all felt it a great privilege to have him in Malta with us. We were more than a little sad when he left however, we managed to keep in touch and to let him know what is happening to the West family in Malta and in Pietrelcina.