Tributes flood in for Bath philanthropist

A respected humanitarian who founded three charities has diedafter suffering a suspected heart attack while on an evening strollnear his home in Batheaston.

Former soldier Richard Carr- Gomm, aged 86, who dedicated hislife to alleviating loneliness among vulnerable members of society,died last week.

After rising to the rank of major in the Army, he left the armedforces in 1955 and used his pension to buy a house in London thatoffered older people companionship and care in the local community,which became the Abbeyfield Society.

In 1965, Mr Carr-Gomm set up another charity, then called theCarr-Gomm Society, to meet the needs of younger people experiencingloneliness through housing and support.

He also founded the charity, the Morpeth Society, for lonely well-off people and was delighted by the growth and success of all three organisations. He continued to actively support their work and tomeet the people using their services right until his death.

He was a devoted husband to his late wife, Susan, and leavesbehind five children, and nine grandchildren.

He received two lifetime achievement awards - one from the DailyMirror's Pride of Britain scheme in 2005 and a Beacon Award in 2004 -and an OBE for his commitment to his work.

A statement issued by the Carr- Gomm charity, which now offershousing and support to more than 4,000 vulnerable people acrossEngland, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support, love andbest wishes we have received."

Gary Lashko, its chief executive, said: "Richard uniquelycombined practical, small-scale, local work, with a vision whichbridged the gap between vulnerable people and policy makers. Richardhas had a profound and lasting influence on the way servicesdeveloped.

"His commitment to helping socially-excluded people to live aspart of, rather than apart from, their community is still central toCarr- Gomm's work today.

"The world would be a sadder, lonelier place without his vision,inspiration and sheer hard work over the past 50 years."

Paul Allen, chief executive of the Abbeyfield Society, said:"Everyone at Abbeyfield is deeply saddened by the death of ourfounder, Richard Carr-Gomm.

"Richard pioneered a change in how older people are viewed in society through his work, which continued right up until his death.

"I had the privilege to meet Richard twice recently. He was agreat inspiration to us all and Abbeyfield will do all it can tocontinue to care for the lonely elderly, in his memory."

After he left the Army, Mr Carr- Gomm became a volunteer homehelp in Bermondsey. Moved by the loneliness of the elderly people hemet, he used his Army gratuity to buy a house, invited four elderlypeople to join him and set himself up as housekeeper. The concept,housing with companionship and independence, took hold. Volunteerscame forward, including his future wife, and in 1956 the AbbeyfieldSociety was formed.

A memorial service will be held in London in early 2009.