Leo’s family sincerely thank everyonefor their support, kindness and prayers.

Thank you for coming todayto celebrate the life of this very special man

and for the part you played in his life.As we continue to celebrate all that Leo has meant to us,

please join us for refreshments at:

St Bedes/Mentone Football ClubBrindisi Street, Mentone.

Prayers of Thanksgivingfor the life and love of

Leo Vincent GambleBorn: 31st October, 1934

Born to Eternal Life: 12th February, 2021

Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Cheltenham24th February, 2021.

Celebrant: Fr Peter Matheson

Excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Order of Christian Funerals © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

The Scripture Readings are taken from the Jerusalem Bible © 1966, 1967, 1968, 1985, Darton, Longman & Todd, Publishers and Doubleday and Co. Inc. .Used by permission of the publishers.

English translation of the Psalm Responses are taken from the Lectionary for Mass © 1981, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Psalm verses are taken from The Psalms: A New Translation ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.

I was saddened to read the death notices for Leo in the Age.He was a regular contributor to our letters pages. And from the notices, he was also a wonderful father, husband, grandfather and man.

Margaret CookLetters co-editor

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC: Tony Vaughan ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY: Jacky Gamble OPENING MUSIC: In The Mood WELCOME: Fr. Peter Matheson PLACING OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS Sprinkling of Baptismal Water: Fr Peter Matheson All: May Christ now bathe him in his love. Lighting of Paschal Candle: Tony Gamble and Janet Dick All: May Christ now hold him in his light. PLACING OF LIFE SYMBOLS Flowers: Mary Exton In his dying Leo has become a new creation. With love and reverence we bring these flowers, symbol of life. Family Photo: Jason Exton During his life Leo’s strongest love and allegiance was for his family

Football: Stephen Exton Leo excelled at all sports and saw it as a life lesson – be and do your best. History of Mentone: Lisa Wilson Leo brought history to life with subtle elegance and a great turn of phrase. EULOGY: Anne, Jenny, Greg and Jacky Gamble. Grumpy Old Men – Jim Harrison Dirty Dozen – Paul Callery and Merv Kane OPENING PRAYER Fr. Peter: God of life, you have loved Leo into life, and drawn him deeper into your love. We give thanks for him and honour him as a grace-filled man of faith, a loving and nurturing husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. Welcome him to eternal life and look kindly on Margaret, and their family gathered around him today, that they may be sustained in peace and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD FIRST READING Jenny Gamble A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus (44:10-15) Here is a generous man whose good works have not been forgotten. In his descendants there remains a rich inheritance born of him. They stand by the covenants and, thanks to him, so do his children’s children. His offspring will last forever, his glory will not fade. His body will be buried in peace and his name will live on for generations. The people will proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises. The word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. RESPONSORIAL PSALM (23) Greg Gamble Response: The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.

Response

He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. Response You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. Response Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever. Response Please stand to welcome the Gospel GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory! Happy are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labours for their good deeds go with them. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

GOSPEL A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (25:31-39) All: Glory to you, Lord. Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, Lord, Jesus Christ. HOMILY: Fr. Peter Matheson

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS Fr. Peter We are gathered today, as Leo’s family and friends, to give him into God’s care with our prayers. Chris Bennetts We pray for the great man, Leo – our Grandad. He gifted us, his grandchildren and children with love, wisdom, humility, compassion, a passion for sport, silly nicknames, the art of conversation, and guiding social justice principles. He was our teacher, treasured husband and father, father-in-law and grandad. May his suffering now be over, and he be resting in peace. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Anne Gamble We pray for Mum and give thanks for the love that she and Dad shared, and for their genuine witness to their wedding vows of accompanying each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. May the life and love they shared surround her with peace. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Jessie Fries We pray with deep gratitude, Lord, for the time we had with Grandad. He leaves a legacy of profound good works. May we venture forward with open minds and hearts, and always strive to enrich the lives of others. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Maddy Bennetts Grandad showed us the true value of friendship. His love of the GRUMPY OLD MEN was profound. Their presence in his life brought comfort, laughter and joy. We pray for all gathered here, that they will know and love friends, as much as Grandad treasured the very special friends in his life. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Mikey Fries Grandad was a great teacher and mentor. We pray in thanks for the unique and kind-hearted men of the Dirty Dozen, Grandad’s past students. Grandad was in awe of the surprise birthday parties organised, and in his last days comforted by his Spotify playlist on the tablet that was their gift. He loved you all. We pray for teachers and mentors around the world. May their guidance be sure and true. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Anthony Odgers We give thanks for the expertise and care of the health professionals, who over the years, supported Leo through his illnesses; and for the staff of Bayside, who have worked so hard during the pandemic to keep he, Margaret and all their residents safe and secure. They gave Leo their friendship and welcomed his. Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Tim and Rick Bennetts We remember Maureen with love, and pray that You will welcome Leo into heaven and reunite him with all those family members and friends who have gone before him Lord, hear us. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Fr.Peter: Lord, may you support us all the days long, till the shadows lengthen, and evening falls, and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over, and our work is done; then, in your mercy, Lord, grant us a safe lodging, a holy rest and peace at last. THE LORD’S PRAYER FAMILY’S AUDIO-VISUAL TRIBUTE

CONCLUDING RITES Fr. Peter: Trusting in God, we have prayed together for Leo, and now we come to this moment, knowing that we shall see him again and enjoy his friendship. Although we shall disperse in sorrow, may the compassion of God serve to enable us to deepen our commitment to live this life with a profound awareness of it being a gift entrusted to us for a time only; and that to each of us is given the responsibility of making our world a better place for our having lived in it. We give you thanks, Lord, for the blessings which you bestowed on Leo in this life – his wisdom, his delight in his family and friends, his commitment to social justice, his patience and kindness, and his deep and strong faith in you. Fr. Peter: Saints of God, come to his aid. Come to meet him angels of the Lord. All: Receive his soul and present him to God the Most

High. Fr. Peter: May Christ, who called you, take you to himself; may angels lead you to Abraham’s side. All: Receive his soul and present him to God the Most

High. Fr. Peter: Give Leo eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on him forever. All: Receive his soul and present him to God the Most

High.

Fr. Peter: O God, author and sustainer of our lives, our final home, we commend Leo to you. Trusting in your mercy and in your all-embracing love, we pray that you give him happiness forever. Turn also to us who have suffered this loss. Strengthen the bonds of this family and our community. Confirm us in faith, in hope and in love, so that we may bear your peace to one another and one day stand together with Leo and all the saints in your heavenly kingdom. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. All: Amen Fr. Peter: Eternal rest grant unto Leo O Lord. All: And may perpetual light shine on him. May his

soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Fr. Peter: In peace, let us now take Leo to his place of rest. RECESSIONAL MUSIC: One of Dad’s favourites! He will be smiling from heaven. Pallbearers: Tony Gamble, Rick Bennetts, Anne Gamble, Jenny Gamble, Greg Gamble and Jacky Gamble.

HE IS GONE

You can shed tears that he has gone,

or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you cannot see him,

or you can be full of the love that you have shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live for yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and ache that he has gone,

or you can cherish his memory and let him live on.

You can cry and close your mind,

be empty and turn back,

or you can do what Leo would want,

smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Order of Christian Funerals © 1989, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

The Scripture Readings are taken from the Jerusalem Bible © 1966, 1967, 1968, 1985, Darton, Longman & Todd, Publishers and Doubleday and Co. Inc. .Used by permission of the publishers.

English translation of the Psalm Responses are taken from the Lectionary for Mass © 1981, International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Psalm verses are taken from The Psalms: A New Translation ©1963, The Grail (England), published by Collins.

I was saddened to read the death notices for Leo in the Age.He was a regular contributor to our letters pages. And from the notices, he was also a wonderful father, husband, grandfather and man.

Margaret CookLetters co-editor

Leo’s family sincerely thank everyonefor their support, kindness and prayers.

Thank you for coming todayto celebrate the life of this very special man

and for the part you played in his life.As we continue to celebrate all that Leo has meant to us,

please join us for refreshments at:

St Bedes/Mentone Football ClubBrindisi Street, Mentone.

Prayers of Thanksgivingfor the life and love of

Leo Vincent GambleBorn: 31st October, 1934

Born to Eternal Life: 12th February, 2021

Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Cheltenham24th February, 2021.

Celebrant: Fr Peter Matheson