29 September 2020

St Columba’s College’s honours the retirement of founder

The remaining founder of St Columba’s College in St Albans retires at the age of 91, after serving the school and local community for over 65 years. Brother Clement also assisted the St Albans Abbey for 26 years as a tour guide and Canon.

Brother Clement Pelletier arrived on the Queen Mary from the US in 1955 along with his three fellow founders: Brother Victor, Brother Eugene and Brother Peter. Over his 65 year-journey, Brother Clement has held the roles of teacher, Deputy Headmaster, Headmaster and most recently, College Archivist.

The four founding Brothers on the steps of Iona House at St Columba’s College in 1955 (L-R: Brother Clement, Brother Victor, Brother Eugene and Brother Peter).

Brother Clement recreates the photo on the steps of Iona House in 2020.

Last year, Brother Clement celebrated his 90th birthday with several events hosted by the school to mark this incredible milestone.

Due to health reasons, Brother Clement has returned to the US for a well-earned retirement in the care of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The school honoured their founder’s retirement with an outdoor socially distanced Mass as well as a guard of honour.

Headmaster, David Buxton, thanks Brother Clement for his service:
“It is testimony to the work of Brother Clement that the school has grown to the scale that it has with its fine reputation for academic excellence and pastoral care. We thank you for the blessing you have been to this school community, and for the role model that you have been to us.”

Brother Clement instilled the Columban values of courage, courtesy and compassion and the school continues to make a huge impact on its pupils and endeavours to serve the local community. This was continued during lockdown, when St Columba’s College donated PPE to the NHS and delivered a successful remote learning programme with strong pastoral support for pupils.

Brother Clement has witnessed many developments over the school’s history, including the most recent move to co-education where St Columba’s will be welcoming girls into the Lower Prep (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) and Sixth Form from September 2021. Brother Clement is most looking forward to hearing about the success of this exciting development.

Brother Clement holds a very special place in the College’s history.

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