Eric John Brand (5 Jun 1933 - 15 Apr 2015)

Eric Brand, a loving family man, died at the age of 81 on 15 April 2015. Eric was married to his childhood sweetheart, Marion, for 61 years and was the father of 4, Grandfather of 7 and Great Grandfather of 3.
Eric was born in Croydon in 1933, and was a wartime evacuee to South Wales as a child. Although he had no natural family and did not have the best of childhoods, he made the most of his life and took every opportunity to better himself. As a teenager, he met his first and only true love and married her in 1954 – one of his proudest moments in life was receiving a congratulatory message from the Queen when they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Such was the love between Eric and Marion that all who met them found them a source of inspiration, and they formed a role model for others in what a real and loving marriage should be.
Eric worked as an electrical engineer until taking early retirement aged 55, and throughout his life ensured that his family were well provided for.
Throughout his life, Eric had many interests and hobbies – from repairing anything electrical and mechanical, to driving steam traction engines – but his main passion in later life was sailing. On his yacht “Rose Marie” he learned seamanship and navigational skills, and with his trusty crew sailed the East Anglian coast as well as venturing to Holland, Belgium, France and the Channel Islands.
Eric was also keen to give back to society, and spent several years as a Magistrate as well as voluntary work as a prison visitor, and as a driver for the Red Cross. He was a long standing member of St Matthews Church in Wigmore, and was the Verger there for several years. His strong Christian belief supported him in times of difficulty.
Eric will be missed by a wide range of friends, but will be remembered most as a strong, supportive and loving family man.