By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Shire Hall fell silent and tributes were paid to “much-loved” Labour stalwart Brian Oosthuysen today who has died at the age of 87.
The former Archway School teacher had a “fascinating life, standing for peace, freedom and justice”.
He served on Gloucestershire County Council for 14 years, from 2005 until 2009 and again from 2011 to 2021.
The tributes were led by John Bloxsom who was Labour group leader during the previous council.
“It’s with sadness that we heard the death of Brian. How he passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, July 13 at Resthaven Care Home at the age of 87,” he said.
“Brian was a lovely, warm and kind man, and his passing will be mourned by many whose lives he touched, including his former colleagues and constituents.
“He had led a truly fascinating life, standing for peace, freedom and justice. I was proud to have continued his work for the community when I succeeded Brian in 2021.
“He represented the Rodborough division for a decade and prior to that also represented the Stroud East division. He also served as a member of Rodborough Parish Council.
“Born in 1938 in South Africa, Brian had a religious conversion in his late teens, seeing apartheid for what it was.
“His eldest daughter, Janet, said he broke with his upbringing by not inflicting violence and fear on his children or his students.
“He came to London in 1962 as a mature student to take a divinity degree at King’s College, where he and Desmond Tutu were the only South Africans on the course.
“They spent much time together, became close friends, kept in touch after graduation in 1965, and met again as recently as 2015.
“Brian taught for many years. Locally, he lived in Rodborough with his wife Carole, with whom he raised a family.
“And he was also an exemplary public servant and community leader, and as we’ve heard that included a long period of service for this council.
“Carole says to Brian, he lived a good useful life, and he worked hard for his constituents as a parish and county councilor for political changes that he believed in and for all his students at Archway School.
“All of this work was informed by his strong faith and his sense of justice begun in his early years fighting against apartheid, to mention a few.
“Brian was active as a member of Amnesty International, a governor of Archway School, chair of governors at Gastrells Primary School, a trustee of Stroud Women’s Refuge, and Stroud District Together With Refugees.
“He was an active member of the congregation of Rodborough Tabernacle and he curated and led the Stroud Holocaust Memorial event.
“It was thanks to Brian that one former pupil learned the poem Leisure by William Henry Davis with its famous line,
“‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’. The pupil recalls, ‘I’ve got to know this through my housemaster.
“‘During a house detention, I was an hour late as I sat in a field watching young badgers playing in the field.
“‘Mr Oosthuysen, my housemaster, made me learn the poem during my hour’s detention, possibly the coolest teacher we had in the school, and certainly a big influence on my life’.”
Mr Bloxsom said many have spoken recently how Brian was always keen to be involved with a ready smile.
“He brought warmth, energy and joy with his role within the community,” he said.
“He had many roles and he touched the lives of so many of his former pupils, constituents, and countless people within the community, and he also had time to take up local issues.
“But most of all, he lived to make his family happy and was deeply loved by all his grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons-in-law, and of course by Carole herself.
“In the last few years, as many of us are aware, Brian had been living with dementia.
“For the last two and a half years, he had received compassionate, diligent, and expert care at Rest Haven, to whom the family had given their thanks.
“Brian spread some of his love in our little part of the world, and he made a difference to people’s lives.
“His was a life well lived, full of love to the end, and God knows, don’t we all need more of that in the world today, and may he rest in peace.”
Tributes were paid by members from all political parties at Shire Hall and all present observed a minute’s silence.
The funeral for Brian will be held on Tuesday, July 29 at 11am in Rodborough Tabernacle.