Obituary for Brian Wright

23578912 Pte Brian Wright was born in Gillingham Norfolk in 1937. Raised in Crowfield Suffolk amid a farming community, he learned his love for the countryside. He loved going to church and having fun, but his parents were eventually told by the preacher that he would not be unhappy if Brian didn’t attend due to his disruptive behaviour.

At 15 he became an apprentice carpenter and learned his skills. He was called for National Service on 7th August 1958 and saw service in Cyprus and Berlin. As Brian was an excellent carpenter, whilst in Berlin was asked to do work on the yacht which once belonged to Joseph Goebbels. (Died 1 May 45) As you will know the military took control of such items after the war and used them.

Brian enjoyed his time in the mob and liked to tell the funny stories that he was involved in. He was demobbed on 6th August 1960. After leaving the Army he went back to joinery and moved to Guernsey where he met and married Jan. After a few years and two sons Steve and Ian, they moved back to Crowfield Suffolk. He was now self employed and the family moved to Stowmarket. 18 years later Brian went back to being employed and joined Haymills of Stowmarket. Very soon Brian became site manager at Duxford and the Stanstead airport where he over saw the building of 300 houses, a few pubs, 3 Caravan sites as well as the runways and other buildings on the aerodrome. After 3 years of this the strain began to show and Jan persuaded him to give it up. There was more to life than work and he preferred to work with wood. He spent the next 5 months walking around the UK with his tent and sleeping bags cooking pots, camping in the wild but using Pubs and camp sites when possible.

In the late 90s Brian Joined the Suffolk Regiment Old Comrades Association in Stowmarket and after a year became the secretary. He took his job seriously and worked with dedication. He raised funds, organised outings, dinners and commemorative re-unions. He never forgot those who served in the second world war, and with Jan saw to the welfare side of things, visiting the sick and bereaved. He organised a commemorative function for those that fought and died in the Far East and got a £500 lottery grant to fund it. 21 Standards arrived at the church.

The government of the day decided that all FEPOW’S and their widows were entitled to £10,000 in compensation. The late Billy Barnard and Brian visited them all in Stowmarket and Needham Market and made sure they got the relevant details to apply.

In October 2010 Brian was presented with the Town Mayors award for excellence, as recognition of outstanding and valued contributions to the community.

Brian would often be found on duty at the Regimental Museum and manning the shop with Jan on Minden day.

Brian passed away after a short illness on 10th February 2018. He was cremated on March 15th at the Ipswich crematorium. There was a guard of honour of over 20 and 5 Standard bearers on parade. The church was overflowing. It was a fitting tribute to a Suffolk Regiment Soldier. We will all miss him. Our thought and prayers are with Jan, Steve Ian and their families. God Bless Brian.

Barry Grunnell
Chairman
Felixstowe OCA.