Jean Ellen Brown (19 May 1935 - 18 Jul 2020)

In loving memory of Jean Ellen Brown who sadly passed away on 18th July 2020.

Mum was born on 19/05/1935 in Chiswick London. And was the only child, to Charles and Nell Nash, although her cousin Margaret who was the daughter of uncle Ted one of Nell’s six brothers and sisters was like a sister to her for many years until she sadly passed away in 1998.

Mum had two sons Andrew and Kevin,

And 7 grandchildren: Danielle, Mark, Richard, Matthew, Jennifer, Katherine, and Nicky of whom she was all immensely proud.

She was also really close to Auntie Edie who was her dad’s sister. Auntie Edie never married so Mum was the closest thing Auntie had to a daughter.

Mum will be remembered as a kind generous caring and loyal person who spent her entire life looking after others often ahead of her own self. She collected many friends due to her lovely caring nature and will be sadly missed by all those that knew her.

Mum lived until 85 and sadly had a tough life, which makes her personality so outstanding.

She was brought up in Walthamstow and Chingford North London/Essex. Her Dad Charles was the finance director of a fruit and veg firm in Borough market, she had a lovely early childhood until 1939 when the war broke out she was only 4 years old.

Her earliest memories are sadly of the blitz and having to shelter from the bombs she hated sirens, enclosed spaces, and any masks on her face which all went back to this time. She also remembers an incident whilst playing in Epping Forest, which was being shot at by a German plane returning from a raid it remained with her as the group comprised entirely of children and she couldn’t believe someone could have been so cruel.

When her dad was called up to the RAF in 1942 as a quartermaster the family relocated to Lincolnshire for the remainder of the war. They lived in a little cottage close to the airfield grandad was stationed at and she remembers sitting in the fields watching and counting the bombers take off and then watching and counting them as they came back. She remembers that she always knew when there was going to be a large raid as the ground crew led by her dad would fill the little lane that ran past the cottage with the extra bombs that would be required prior to being shipped to the airfield. They nicknamed the lane bomb alley. With this insider knowledge it was a good job she wasn’t a spy.

The first sadness of mum’s life came on the 28 may 1942 when her uncle Herbert (Bertie) was killed whilst serving in the 8th army in Libya.

He was a gunner in the south Nott’s hussars, and died in a heroic action (known as the cauldron) which ultimately saved his comrades and helped turn the tide against Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Rommel’s panzers had surprised and outflanked the British 8th army in what became the battle of Gazala. Bertie’s unit was in the Knightsbridge box which stood firm and covered the main army as they retreated hastily before they got completely surrounded.

Bertie’s unit carried on the defence until they ran out of ammo, and had lost almost their entire unit (only a handful survived). But they delayed Rommel for so long they were so short of ammo and fuel themselves they had to stop the advance. This allowed the 8th army time to regroup and ultimately relaunch a counter attack which was the famous battle of Alamein which turned the tide of the war and eventually led to the German defeat in Africa. She loved her uncle Bertie so much and was so sad but also so proud of him as well. and the family still remember his sacrifice to this day.

At school mum was a good athlete and represented her school and Essex at running which is where Danielle may get her gift from.

Mum would be the first to admit she was never a girly girl but more of a tomboy she was more at home climbing trees then playing with dolls she often recounted an incident when she was 10 or 11 whilst playing with her cousins and their mates they decided to scrump some apples from a farmers orchard. She was always the first up the tree but on this particular occasion the farmer caught them in the act and all the boys scarpered and left mum alone in the tree. The farmer helped mum down and told her that the boys were so gallant running off and leaving her all alone and he smiled at her and gave her a big bag of apples to take home with her.

After school mum trained as a children’s nurse and worked at Great Ormond street hospital a job she really enjoyed doing and felt was so rewarding. She always remembered one little boy called Callum Young who was deaf and unable to speak but was such a lovely little boy she was very attached to him and to this day wondered how he fared in life.

Mum was also a nanny for a young struggling British actor called Stanley Baker. When he got a contract to move to Hollywood to make a series of films, he and his wife asked mum to go with them. She was very flattered but was reluctant to leave her mum and dad, and had also just met a young man called Norman Sale (my dad obviously), so she reluctantly turned the offer down but followed his career with interest including his most famous film Zulu made in 1964.

Dad and mum become close and enjoyed doing many activities together including cycling which they also did with Dad’s brother Dennis and they joined a cycling club and cycled the width and breadth of Britain including a cycling holiday all the way to Scotland. They loved dancing in the dance halls and ballrooms, and mum particularly enjoyed playing tennis which both mum and dad were good at they joined a tennis club and mum represented Essex in tournaments.

They eventually married in 1956 and moved out of London in 1959, and came to Shoeburyness to be near dad’s sister Ivy. Nan and grandad and auntie Edie all followed her from London to Thorpe bay and Westcliff in 1960.

Mum got a job for a local builders firm mainly to be in the office but again her tomboy spirit shone through and she often helped out loading the vans and even attending some jobs. Mum remembered that along with her nursing training she had also done a woodworking course at the technical college in Walthamstow, and had been the only girl on the course she was very handy with the DIY.

One day in 1962 a pregnant mum slipped over whilst running for a train and the next day I arrived three months early. I came at 1 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon and it has always been suggested that’s why I liked my Sunday roast.

Our family call to fame was that one of mum’s cousins married Hank Marvin’s brother. The whole family attended the wedding and the band that played at the reception was Cliff Richard and the shadows. Mum and dad were due to go but as I had come early they were unable to do so. I always felt so guilty that mum had missed out as they both liked the band. Obviously it was not my fault but it never stopped me feeling guilty.

Unfortunately mum and dads marriage didn’t last and they eventually divorced in 1973. Mum was now a struggling single parent and got some jobs in the local school at dinner times and also doing general house work. Mum didn’t drive at this time and I can always remember her cycling off to work on her bike.

Mum become really ill around this time and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis she got so bad that she had to have supports on her hands, neck and legs, and was told she would soon need to be in a wheelchair permanently. Mum was always a fighter and would never give up or give in. when a new drug called methotrexate was developed she volunteered for the trail and was the first in the area to be given it. It stopped the condition from getting worse and although still always with constant pain she managed to rid herself of the supports and never did need to have the wheelchair.

Mum was one to always get involved and when I joined the scouts in the mid-seventies mum joined as well as Baloo the Bear (that must be why I like bears). At first I was a bit worried but mum was so much fun and mucked in with everything that I really enjoyed those times and the rest of the pack thought she was really cool and wished that she was their mum. I have always been very proud of her.

When money became tight we moved to a smaller house in Hawkwell which was a little two up two down cottage with an outside toilet and gas lighting. I can still remember my mates faces when we had to light the gas to put the lights on (very Victorian) as everyone else had electricity.

Mum had met her second husband George Brown who was an independent builder whilst working at the builders firm. George helped mum and the rest of the family bring the cottage into the 20th century adding a kitchen and bathroom with upstairs bedroom and of course electricity. They married in 1974.

Mum’s next great mission was her ladies meeting at the Baptist church she arranged all the speakers and arranged outings and events which she loved very much she also had a special bond with her elder members which she called “her ladies” she would accompany them to doctors and medical appointments, take them shopping or special days out for tea and cakes among those I remember were Mrs Wade, Mrs Pursglove, Mrs Topson Mrs Beaumount, and Mrs Brewerton. It was hard for her when one by one they all sadly passed away.

Mum switched her organising talents to helping Auntie Edie provide an annual coach holiday for many of their friends and family and I will always remember going on one of these to Bournemouth in 1976 as one of the events they planned was to go and see the Dad’s Army stage show which was a treat as we all loved watching the programme on TV. It was so great and funny to see them all dong their stuff live.

The next great tragedy for mum was in 1978 when George was diagnosed with cancer and after a brief illness passed away leaving mum alone as a single mum again. Although they had only been married for 4 years mum called George her soulmate and the loss was very hard for her.

In 1987 mums mum Nell was climbing a tree to cut off some branches in her garden (so that’s where mum got it from), and unfortunately fell out and broke her hip. After an operation which she seemed to be recovering from, she slipped over again and broke the other hip.Mum started to spend more and more time with Nan looking after her, often days or weeks at a time until eventually in 1988 we decided I would buy the house off her and she would permanently move into Nan and Grandads bungalow in Thorpe bay. Mum was planning to use the money to build an extension in the loft for her own space. Unfortunately it never happened and Nan passed away just a few days after her 60th wedding anniversary in 1993.

Mum’s next project was looking after Auntie Edie and Grandad who both had deteriorating health, and also helping out Carole who also had a health issue which needed regular trips to hospital.

Mum and Grandad moved to Cornwall 1997. But the great adventure was short lived as Auntie and Grandad both sadly passed away in 1998. Mum was again alone so she moved back to Shoeburyness and moved into her final home in January 2000.

Mum made some really good friends here and began to think more about herself at last.

The closet of them being Kevin and John, Mark, Michelle, Steve and Dolly.

She was really happy when Kevin showed an interest in gardening which was one of her passions which she got from grandad and passed onto Richard. She really loved the endless hours they spent going around the gardens planting trees, flowers, de heading etc. Kevin and John used to run the management company which managed the estate. One of the jobs was to regularly pressure wash the communal bins and bin areas. Once again mums tomboy spirit took over and she would amaze them by literally mucking in and helping them to perform this unpleasant task.

Both mum and Danielle will always fondly remember the holiday they took with Kevin to Spain particularly the time mum was sitting by the pool with her Walkman on, they sneaked up on her and tipped her in the pool all she said she remembers is Danielle laughing when she eventually emerged from the water.

Mum knew Michelle from when she came to help mums neighbour Joan out by cutting her hair and doing housework. Initially Michelle came to do the same for mum, but it fast became much more and they became firm friends. Mum will always fondly remember all the good times they have shared together.

Mum will also remember all the days out to the beach and up to London with Steve which they often took when Richard was younger and came to stay with Nan
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Mark has been a particular godsend and has helped mum on numerous trips to hospitals and doctors’ appointments and weekly shopping trips etc. performing the same caring help as mum did for her ladies. Mum loved Mark’s visits to watch countdown, and her special visits from Toby and Stig. She would love to play ball and give Stig his bone after their Friday morning shopping trip to ASDA, she has really missed this during the horrible lockdown.

Her biggest joy has been her grandchildren she loved watching them grow and mature over the years

Mum knew Richard would be a gardener as we have a video of him in Nan’s garden aged about 1-2 years old constantly crawling off his blanket onto the lawn to go over to look at great grandad’s prized flowers. She also knew he had a love for the beach and seaside, and loved the times they walked out to the boom or Mulberry harbour, and the time they visited the lifeboat station on the pier.

Mum loved the times she spent with Danielle, and the sleepovers she had with Nan. She was so interested in Danielle’s running career being a runner herself, and kept all the newspaper cuttings, and was so proud when she represented her country and became cross country champion. Danielle says Nan never grew tired of taking her down to the pier and treated every time as though it was the first. Nan would take the train and Danielle would try to beat Nan to the end by running. She was so happy when you found Stu and settled down and wishes you both, every happiness for the future.

Mum also loved the sleepovers with Jennifer, Katherine and Matthew and hoped she didn’t keep you awake with her snoring.

Jennifer has inherited Mums mum side of the family (the Smiths) talent which is art, although Dad (Norman) was a pretty good artist himself. She was so proud of your pictures, and loved the ones of the cats Tibby, Ginge and Ginge 2.0 you drew for her. Mum’s biggest wish is that you will find a job where you will be able to use your ability. Although she has not seen much of Kieran the times she did she thought him a nice polite young man and hoped you would be happy together.

Katherine Nan loved your thoughtful caring nature and hopes you find the career and future you deserve. She was pleased when you became interested in nursing and caring and although she would never push you, she secretly hoped you may follow her footsteps as she really did love that career although it has changed dramatically since her day. She was pleased you have found Adam and thought you a good match; she loved how much he cared and was concerned for you with your heart problem.

Matthew Nan cannot believe how much you have matured and become such a strong handsome young man (her words) she thinks that a lot of this is to do with Paris and felt you both had something from the first time she was introduced to Paris. She thinks you are really good together and wishes you both, every happiness for the future.

Mark Nan was so pleased when you found Katie and loved the times you would visit with the children she was also proud of the man you have become and also wishes you both, every happiness for the future.

On many occasions I would stay round Mums when I was working on the night shift as it was quieter and I loved spending some quality time with her.

When Mum had her first stroke in 2008 it sadly coincided with my marriage break up, so I permanently moved in to look after her. Initially the doctor’s told mum she wouldn’t walk again and would need to use a wheelchair. Again mum’s fighting spirit took over and she proved them wrong again, another stroke and 2 heart attacks later and she was still proving everybody wrong. Mum was constantly fighting asthma attacks, chest infections, and had pneumonia 3 winters running but bounced back every time.

On Friday 17th July 2020 she was taken to hospital again for another chest infection we all thought invincible mum would be back home again in a couple of days as before, but sadly this was to be one fight to many for her and she sadly passed away on Saturday 18th July.

The only regret mum had in life was she didn’t make 90 as she was so looking forward to her party with all the family and grandchildren around, and preferably to have been in her new bungalow but sadly this was not to be and I will always be sad for this as well.

Everyone who knew her loved her caring, selfless character and everyone fortunate to know her will have been blessed by the experience. She was warm funny and a little naive as Kevin will tell you if you ask him.

Mum you have worked so hard and endured so much during your wonderful life, but now you can finally rest and take a break. You memory will forever be carried on by those that knew you. You will be forever missed but I look forward to when we meet again.

God bless you Mum. Rest in peace.