FORMER AREA DIRECTOR DIES

I was in the office briefly this morning and took a call from Edward de Kam, National Director of YFC Netherlands. It was to say that my predeccessor-but-one as European Area Director, George Brucks, had died at his home in Zeist last night, Monday. George was eighty, and yesterday had held court in a tent dedicated to him at the 60th anniversary celebrations of the founding of YFC Netherlands (of which he had also been National Director). About 1200 people were in attendance at Den Lindenhorst, the YFC Holland HQ in Driebergen, and George had given no sign of any illness.

George was the Area Director from around 1974-1989, and since his retirement from that position he continued to write, speak and maintain his interest in humanitarian work in Romania. When we began MANNAFEST in Belfast in 1987 he was one of the first speakers we had (perhaps March or April of that year) and he came back perhaps twice more - always to very appreciative audiences. He had a quirky, sideways way of looking at The Word and the world which appealed strongly to young people.

He held strong, forthright opinions on all matters, and liked nothing better than to shock people - always in his view for constructive reasons. I last saw him when I paid him a visit in his apartment in November 2004, but ironically, in my mailbox this morning was an e-mail from him sent yesterday morning at 8.19am.

The funeral will be on Friday in Zeist, but I don't yet know the time. I will post the arrangements as soon as I know them.