Born in Essex in 1901 he was the thirteenth of fourteen children. Being low down in the pecking-order seems to have made no difference to this future Bishop, whose cheerful confident manner gave him an unmistakable presence.

He began his studies for the priesthood at Cotton College and in 1918, like Fr Stanbridge, became Head boy, or Public Man. He was ordained at Oscott College in 1929 and returned to Cotton as Prefect of discipline. He had an irrepressible energy, which caused some irritation amongst more sedate members of staff, but also won him many friends especially in local parishes. In 1935 he was appointed as first parish priest to Trent Vale which was dedicated to St Teresa of Lisieux and whose simplicity and innocence of life he greatly admired, and, albeit in a different way, followed.

On the outbreak of war in 1939 he became Chaplain to the forces, and was one of the survivors at Dunkirk. Such was his enthusiasm that he soon became a Senior Chaplain with a special mission to recruit other "volunteer" priests. Eventually he was sent to Army Headquarters in Italy, and was R.C. chaplain to the Allied forces when they entered Rome. There his abilities were soon recognised, and to his own surprise, and that of most other priests in the diocese, he was persuaded to become auxiliary to Archbishop Williams. He was ordained in Rome in 1944 with the title Bishop of Soli, and returned to the diocese, where he was appointed parish priest of St Peter's.

Humphrey Bright always welcomed a challenge and his years in the parish certainly provided that. Leamington was growing, and changing, at a faster rate than ever. Soldiers were returning home, and at the same time, there was a great influx of other communities seeking work. The war years had prevented development, and Catholic schools in particular were mostly in a poor state and overcrowded. In addition to all this the health of the Archbishop deteriorated and Bishop Bright became deeply involved with Diocesan duties.

To all these problems and needs he brought a boundless zeal and enthusiasm. Every parish seemed to know him, and certainly every young priest or student in the diocese felt challenged by him, since his greatest concern was for the youth of the diocese. Amongst his many contributions to the diocese was the establishment of a diocesan youth centre in Stratford named Soli House in recognition of his episcopal title.

All of this would have been impossible even for one with his tremendous energy, but, at the time of his appointment, the Archbishop had appointed another army chaplain who provided, in army parlance, "essential back-up support".

In 1951 Archbishop Masterson asked him to take up a post in Stoke-on-Trent with special responsibility for the "Potteries". It was a great wrench for him to leave Leamington but with his usual loyalty he immediately agreed. His thirteen years in Tunstall deserve a further account in themselves, for it was there that "Humph" became one of the most influential and well-loved priests in the diocese. Because Leamington had, as it were, its own Bishop, all the confirmations during these years were administered by him.

When the new Catholic Grammar school in Leamington was established in 1966, it was obvious it should be called "Bishop Bright".

He died in 1964 and was buried at Oscott College.

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