The End of Summer. A Tribute to Henry Scrope

The year 2026 heralded a heatwave not matching the one I also experienced in 1976, It was a glorious summer nonetheless and a welcome relief from the horrendous rain we too often experience these days, I met with my good friend Henry Scrope several times during the year and always enjoyed our philosophical discussions about work, autism, and life in general. Henry had a spark about him that reminded me of my childhood when everything we did was exciting, full of mystique and wonder. As you age you tend to lose some of that boyhood sparkle as you are more inclined to take things for granted. The sun is shining, yes, it happens every day, its pay day, yes, it comes around every month or it’s my birthday, well it happens every year. You get the drift. Henry was different, he somehow retained that boyhood sparkle, the spirit of adventure and discovery where everything was exciting and doable.

In 2007, Henry contacted me for the very first time to explain that he has an autistic son and he would like to visit some of our services. I arranged for him to do so but explained I could not join him on the day of his visit due to other commitments. The visit went well and Henry invited me for lunch to discuss the visit in detail. The meeting went very well, and we got along nicely resulting in his son joining our service in Easingwold. Henry discovered I was involved as a speaker in a national roadshow, and he joined the audience sitting in the front row. At the end of my presentation he was clapping loudly and shouting ‘Bravo’ etc. This marked the beginning of a memorable relationship between us. Henry served on our board for one term during which he contributed superbly as he championed the employment rights of autistic adults. He met with leading politicians to explain what was wrong with the current system that resulted in extremely poor employment outcomes for autistic adults being much worse than all other disabilities by comparison.

I met with Henry to discuss my idea to set up a string of social enterprises including a musical instrument manufacturing unit providing bell lyres for marching bands and a meals on wheels service for the elderly delivered by autistic adults in our service. Henry offered me premises in Easingwold, and we established a fabulous day service hub to train people in a variety of craft-based skills. At the same time, he told me the monks at Ampleforth Abbey ran a chocolate factory on site and made various chocolates to sell in their retail shop. However, a German monk who was a chocolatier left the order and returned home to Germany. Henry arranged for me to visit the monastery and introduced me to the monks. They led us inside the monastery and curiously we were bemused to find that Henry’s wife was not allowed inside the monastery as no woman was allowed access since the monastery was founded. I was amazed to find the chocolate machinery was all brand new and in the middle of a table was a bowl of chocolate solidified with a large spoon standing upright in the centre of the bowl. The monks offered the complete set up to me free of charge but explained we could not continue using the monastery for our purpose. They offered an alternate site in Gilling East which was far away from the monastery on part of the 2000 acre of land they owned.

Henry and I became the joint proud founders of our new chocolate factory at Gilling East. We later outgrew the site and secured much larger premises in Knaresborough and relocated our Easiworks enterprise to the same site. We were both like excited little boys let loose in a sweetie shop as the business began to grow and we supplied many customers including farm shops, independent retailers, hotels and restaurants, North Yorkshire Steam Railways, Beamish Museum, and many others. Following the new site acquisition, we set up our first chocolate shop and café in Easingwold, a bustling little market town that attracted many tourists. The site is extremely popular and successful and is warmly welcomed and supported by the local community.

I was approached by Dame Stephanie Shirley who was a leading supporter of autism and founded a school in Berkshire and the Autistica research organisation. She visited our chocolate factory and was impressed. She informed me she would like to do something for Autism Plus- an event in London would be good as she explained due to her age she would not be travelling north anymore. She explained that we need to think of an unusual event as she was tired of the usual trail of banquets, House of Lords, Lords cricket ground etc. If I could think of an unusual event, she would support it. I remembered I bought a day out on the sumptuous Northern Belle Railway for my brother’s birthday consisting of a light breakfast, a five-course dinner, and a visit around Edinburgh. This train was equivalent to the Orient Express with Pullman coaches and fine dining.

I located its equivalent in London and persuaded an American company to sponsor the cost of three coaches we hired for our event. It was a pre- Christmas event with a five- course luncheon complete with musicians and magicians. We set up a PA system in the three coaches and invited donors, service users and parents and Henry and his son William. Dame Stephanie Shirley gave a marvellous speech followed by William Scrope who spoke brilliantly about trains and the train journey. I thought he did a much better job than Michael Portillo on TV.

I had many meetings with Henry and his wife Mary Clare; they were both avid supporters of our work and regular visitors to our factory and the chocolate shop in Easingwold. They would urge me to pop in for lunch when I was up in North Yorkshire, and I did so many times with boundless joy over the years. I enjoyed Mary’s culinary skill- especially her macaroni cheese! Most of all I enjoyed our friendship and our many philosophical discussions about autism and life in general.

The End of Summer

As our wonderful sunny summer drew to a close in August this year, I had a late August meeting with our auditors at the chocolate factory with a sandwich lunch. Henry and Mary invited me for lunch again which I declined due to the arranged lunch with our auditors. Later that day I popped in for a coffee and a chat with Henry and Mary Clare. It was another lovely hot and sunny day. We had a long chat, and Henry was his usual happy and chirpy self. As I stood to leave Henry led me out to the garden to show me his remarkable new remote-controlled lawnmower which was most impressive. Finally, he led me to the garage to show me his lovely vintage Jaguar car under canvass.

He gave me a lovely huge hug, and I got in my car and set off with Henry stood waving me away. I had no idea this would be the last time I would see him this side of eternity. As the summer we all enjoyed began to fade away, so it was with my dear friend. Two weeks later, following a short illness, Henry passed away.

In my life, few people have moved me the way Henry did. He is an absolute inspiration, a warm and generous soul with an impish touch of youthful excitement that reminded me of being a little boy when I viewed the world and all its wonder! We were very much like two excited little boys when we were together.

Henry reminded me of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God. I am not comparing him with God, but in an analogous sense he was three people in one to me. A father figure, a brother, and a dear, dear friend. Henry has achieved so much in his life, and my story reflects only my time shared with him. But this gentle happy chirpy soul has left a hole in my life that can never be filled.

Rest in Peace Henry. I praise God for your life both here and ever after.

With love.

Philip

Philip Bartey

Group Chief Executive

Autism Plus