A special memorial service has been held to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of an army chaplain from Crosby in the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Former St. Mary’s College pupil Father Gerry Weston, who was killed by a bomb in February 1972, is buried at SS Peter and Paul Church on Liverpool Road.

Family, friends and former colleagues of Father Weston - including staff and governors from St. Mary’s and members of the school’s Combined Cadet Force - gathered at the church to pay their respects and lay a wreath at his grave.

Father Gerard Edward Weston, who was born in 1933, was ordained by Archbishop Heenan in 1960. He joined the British Army in 1966 as a chaplain, serving in Germany, the Persian Gulf, Kenya and Northern Ireland, achieving the rank of Captain.

During the height of the troubles, he frequently entered the difficult areas of Turf Lodge and Ballymurphy alone, talking with local people in an attempt to reduce tension.

This placed Father Weston in considerable personal danger, especially as a rumour had been circulating saying that a soldier was involved in military activities disguised as a priest.

For his own safety, his commanding officer eventually ordered his withdrawal. However, his actions were officially recognised when he was awarded the MBE for gallantry on 15th February 1972.

Just seven days later, Father Weston and six civilians were killed when a huge bomb exploded outside the Officers’ Mess of the 16th Parachute Regiment in Aldershot. He was just 38 years old.

The Official IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, in retaliation for Bloody Sunday three weeks earlier.

However, public revulsion at the bombing was in part responsible for the organisation calling a ceasefire three months later, and it subsequently disbanded.

St. Mary’s College Head of History and CCF Contingent Commander, Niall Rothnie, who has written extensively on military matters, said: “This event enabled us to pay tribute to a remarkable man and to remember the other victims of one of the worst atrocities of the whole Northern Ireland conflict.”

St Mary's and British Legion representatives are pictured with Father Weston's brother Paul Weston and sister Mary Tunney at the memorial service conducted by Bishop Tom Williams and Monsignor John Furnival.

A representative of St. Mary's College Combined Cadet Force lays a wreath at Father Weston's grave.

Students from St. Mary’s College in Crosby turned out in force to support a number of Remembrance Day events this week.  The whole school took part in a special ceremony at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - the time in 1918 that the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare.  As part of this service, the college paid tribute to former pupils who have been killed in action. Their names are recorded on a plaque within the school building.  Staff and students observed a two-minute silence and were able to reflect on the poignancy of the occasion, bearing in mind the ongoing British losses in Afghanistan.  The Exultation was given by past pupil Major Jonathan Cunningham MBE, former Chief of Staff of 42 (North West) Brigade, the regional Army brigade for North West England and the Isle of Man.

Students from St. Mary’s were also involved in Sefton’s civic remembrance events.  40 members of the Combined Cadet Force took part in the ceremony at the Five Lamps memorial in Waterloo, and 33 musicians plus five more cadets from the school were involved in the ceremony at the war memorial in Alexandra Park in Crosby. The school band accompanied two hymns and also played during the wreath-laying ceremony.

Meanwhile, 25 St. Mary’s cadets also sold poppies in Liverpool city centre at the weekend.

Principal Mike Kennedy commented: “St. Mary’s has very close links with the armed forces because of the thriving cadet contingent which is based here at the school.  “For this reason, Remembrance Day is a very special event which gives the whole school community the opportunity to honour the courage and sacrifice of the British men and women killed during two World Wars and other conflicts.  “It was a real honour for our cadets and musicians to play such an important part in the civic Remembrance Day commemorations. They did themselves and St. Mary’s proud.”