Derrick Brown

“Loves Last Gift: Remembrance”

Derrick passed away at Leighton Hospital on the 24th August aged 98 years.

The beloved husband of Vivienne, much loved dad to Valerie also a cherished uncle who will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Derrick’s funeral will take place at Crewe Crematorium Chapel on Monday 11th September at 12.15pm

Donations in memory of Derrick will be gratefully received for the British Heart Foundation.

Derrick (or Dek as he was known by many) enjoyed a long, happy life. His memories went back to some very different times. Those were tough times, times of shortages and rationing, and of course there was the time of the war when Crewe Works, where Dek was working, was one of the targets for enemy bombers. The Crewe of today is a very different place to how it was all those years ago.

This gentle – man, born in Wybunbury nearly a century ago, worked as a fitter from age 14 in Crewe Works until he retired some 48 years later.

His job in The Works was a reserved occupation, but Derrick did his bit for the war effort by joining the Home Guard – and thereby hangs a tale. His Commanding Officer happened to be his former school teacher who evidently liked to pick on Dek to demonstrate tasks. On this particular occasion on the Rifle range he was to demonstrate firing the first of 32 shots from an automatic rifle. Just the first shot. Well, the rifle had a fault and discharged all 32 rounds – much to the dismay of Dek and to the amusement of the rest of the platoon.  Echoes here of Dad’s Army with Captain Mainwaring and Private Pike.

Some few years later Dek and Vivienne met at the Studio dance hall on Mill Street. This was the start of a romance lasting over 74 years, and a dancing partnership lasting over 60 years.

“Have you ever thought of us getting engaged?” wasn’t the most romantic proposal from Dek, but Vivienne said yes. And so it was that they married in St Peter’s Church on Earle Street in 1951, with the Reception in the Vincent Street Schoolrooms. Interestingly, some of the food for the Reception was procured from Ireland – which required several ferry trips with family across the Irish Sea, bringing back tinned goodies in suitcases. “What are you bringing back?” was a question put to one of the party. Answer: “A tin opener.”

Some year’s later daughter Valerie was born. She has brought her dad great joy and comfort. She was, after all, his favourite daughter.

Not for nothing did she call him “Daddy Will Ya” followed by “take me here or there” and the name stuck. An animal lover, Dek enjoyed attending dog agility demonstrations, which Valerie and her dog took part in.

Some of Dek’s qualities have rubbed off on Valerie – determination, a sense of agency, kindliness, and even a love for Liverpool Football Club. Valerie has been there for her dad, as she continues to be for her mum, reciprocating all that they have given her.

There have been so many lovely wedding anniversaries to celebrate over the years. There was their 25th Anniversary party, prior to which Dek scored all their vinyl records for their suitability for dancing, ready for the MC to play.

Sometimes anniversaries were in great holiday destinations, as for example their 50th in Cypress.  These are great memories for Vivienne to savour in the future. Perhaps the last one – the 72nd – will be the most poignant.

I think between them Dek and Vivienne have had a great life. Think of them dancing the night away with family and friends in clubs in Crewe such as Coppenhall Club on a Saturday night.  There were the many day trips and holidays with friends like Eddie and Pat, both in the UK and abroad.  An early holiday, organised by The British Rail Touring Club (often led by Vivienne’s father), was the one to Nice when the train in which they were travelling home was involved in a rail crash.

They enjoyed trips to race meetings from Bangor-On-Dee to York.

In retirement, Dek took up snooker before discovering Crown Green bowling, where apparently he was quite competitive. He only gave up bowling when he found it difficult to reach the long corners, concerned it could impact his team’s ability to win.

So there is much to be grateful for in Dek’s life. He gave friendly companionship to others and received plenty in return. He was able to help lots of people over the years. He was open to new ideas and retained his interest in the world around him. His long life has been for the most part a very healthy and active one. It is only these past few years when he has been struggling. But even in recent times he has been fiercely independent, so far as he could be. For example, refusing to use Vivienne’s stair lift, still trying to do the washing up, and, although not drinking one himself, making a lovely cup of tea.

Dek has had love in his heart. Love has an eternal dimension to it – think of all those 1000’s of love songs which speak of eternal or everlasting love. That love is something in which Vivienne and he shared and in that love she, and all who love Dek, will see him again.

In conclusion there is the story of the trifle and the police sergeant. Because Dek had a sweet tooth, Vivienne’s parents had given him the remains of a bowl of trifle to take home after a party. He was walking home with the bowl under his coat. A notorious, officious police sergeant became suspicious and started following him.  Dek took some short cuts, which must have aroused suspicions further. “What have you got there?” the sergeant demanded to know when he caught up with Dek. Dek opened up his coat. The sergeant had not made a killing.

 

 

For further details please call 01270 584447