| born 7 February 1909 |
| died 24 May 1960 aged 51 |
| clothed 1927 |
| professed 1928 |
| raised to diaconate 1 August 1937 |
On 24 May, after a long illness spent in various hospitals in Glasgow, Fr Ethelbert McCombes died from a tumour on the brain. He was born in Glasgow in 1909 and came to the Abbey School aged 14. He entered the Novitiate four years later and on completion, he was sent to Saint Andrew’s Priory, Canaan Lane to study English at Edinburgh University where he graduated three years later. On 1 August 1937, along with Brs Andrew McKillop and Maurus Whitehead, he received the diaconate from Bishop Bennett (an Old Boy).
In 1938 he was appointed Assistant Headmaster of the Abbey School under the Headmaster, Commander Farie. Fr Ethelbert took over as Headmaster in 1939, continuing in the post for 13 years. From 1941-45 he also took charge of the Preparatory School, which had been evacuated to Fort Augustus.
He succeeded Abbot Oswald Eaves as Prior and Headmaster of Carlekemp in January 1952. However, his health slowly deteriorated and finally broke down in 1959.
Fr Ethelbert’s greatest innovation was the introduction of the House system (with monks as Housemasters), the administration of the School by members of the monastic Community, and the increasing importance given to Science.
From Abbey Boys by Mike Turnbull
Father Ethelbert’s headstone in the monk’s cemetery
