Prince pays tribute to professional soldier turned champion of the lonely who was unafraid of a mop
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Patron of The Abbeyfield Society, led tributes today to Major Richard Carr-Gomm OBE, champion of the lonely and vulnerable, at a Service of Thanksgiving at Southwark Cathedral.
His Royal Highness, although unable to attend, sent the Tribute to be included in the Order of Service. He said “the work inspired by Richard Carr-Gomm has helped many thousands of vulnerable people, young and old, lead happy, secure and fulfilled lives. Both Abbeyfield and Carr-Gomm, had humble beginnings in Bermondsey, South East London. They and the other charities Richard Carr-Gomm founded all aimed to offer a safe home and support to lonely and vulnerable people”
The “humble beginnings” included Richard putting a mop to good use as Abbeyfield’s first housekeeper 53 years ago when he used his army gratuity to buy a house for four lonely old people to live in in Eugenia Road, Bermondsey. Abbeyfield now supports more than 7,000 older people in supported sheltered housing and care homes in the UK and also in fifteen countries overseas. Richard then went on to found Carr-Gomm in 1965 which now helps over 4000 vulnerable people of all ages providing support, care, and housing. He also founded several other charities.
The Prince of Wales was represented at the Service by Sir Stephen Lamport. Other people attending included Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, Sir Nicholas Winton, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, actor Geoffrey Palmer, various representatives of African Royalty and members of the British aristocracy, Richard’s five children and eleven grand children plus hundreds of family, friends, residents, staff and volunteers, from the charities he founded.
Richard Carr-Gomm Order of Service (pdf, 412 kb)
David Carr-Gomm's tribute to Richard Carr-Gomm (pdf, 17kb)
The Rt. Revd. Dr. Christopher Herbert's Tribute to Richard Carr-gomm (pdf, 34kb)
