Brian Taberer (5 Aug 1939 - 6 Nov 2025)

I first met Brian when he joined the Passport Office London in 1966 where we played table tennis against each other during extended lunchtime breaks. We along with many others transferred the following year to the newly opened Peterborough Office, but little was I to know that we would end up living next door to each other in Moulton Grove Peterborough! As neighbours our friendship developed from that time on. Brian would often give me a lift to work in his car – a swish sporty dark blue Sunbeam Talbot. (I repaid his generosity years later by selling him 3 cars that I owned at literally bargain prices!) Wages in those days were poor so both Brian and myself worked part time as barmen at the local pub called the Halcyon. It’s probably there that we got on a slippery slope!

We both liked having a bet and over the years attended horse race meetings at Huntingdon, Leicester, Sandown, Kempton and Cheltenham along with greyhound race meetings at Peterborough, Walthamstow, White City and Wembley. During our time at Peterborough we also learnt together how to play golf (at Corby public course) lawn tennis and bowls and we were well matched. We also played football together in the same Passport Office team and this is where Brian excelled. During our time in Peterborough our daughter Suzanne was born and it didn’t take her long to find her way over the fence to Uncle Brian and Aunty Janet’s to help with the gardening!

Linda and myself moved to Harlow in 1972 and then to St Albans in 1978. Brian and Janet moved to Southend in 1975 but we kept in touch and visited each other occasionally. Brian and myself often played golf together at golf courses supposedly about halfway between where we each lived. Then in 1981 we moved to Southend and renewed our friendship and golf rivalry, with both Brian and myself joining Thorpe Hall Golf Club in 1981. We always partnered each other in all Club competitions with our fair share of successes, including the ‘Cross Country comp’ where Brian’s short but straight game unusually paid dividends.

One of our great regrets was that owing to a holiday in Portugal we were unable to attend Jeanette’s funeral in 1998. It took quite some time for Brian to overcome his sad loss but he eventually returned to playing golf, highlighted by him joining me and his other friends on very enjoyable annual golfing holidays in Spain, Portugal and Turkey. Then in latter years his health deteriorated and despite using golf buggies he retired from golf and left Thorpe Hall golf club.

Over the past 3 years Brian and I met up regularly for “lunch” at the Rose Inn where we would revisit our 59 years of wonderful memories. I miss him. He was his own man but it was an honour to be his friend.

You will be sadly missed, Brian, no more fish and chips, which you thoroughly enjoyed. Sincere condolences from the whole team. Rest in peace until we meet again. It was a privilege working with you. A big thank you to your sons for the care and concern they showed throughout.

Although fully expecting the worst after dad was taken into hospital, when the end did come, for some reason it was still a shock. Once that had worn off, I had very mixed feelings – sadness at the loss of my father, but almost relief as his quality of life with his ongoing physical problems plus the abrupt deterioration in his dementia meant his world was shrinking yet becoming increasingly more confusing. The saddest part was watching and caring for him as he became a shadow of his former self.
Freddie was hard to be close to as he often preferred his own company. When mum was alive, he had little choice as she would invite the grandkids round and he would take them down to see the planes at the bottom of the garden. That being said, when the mood took him, he could be very interesting and entertaining company.
He was an intelligent, expressive man if not a practical one (he once lost a ‘fight’ with a deckchair). A great delegator, both at work and at home. Unexplained noises were his nemesis – I once spent a memorable 20 minutes in the boot of his car as he drove round the block so that I could identify the offending rattle.
It will seem strange dad not being around after 60+ years of him being there.
Rest in Peace dad x

I will always remember the happy times we had at yours at Christmas with Mum especially playing cards.Will cherish those happy memories 💖

Barry and I really liked Brian. We had many a long chat with him and lots of laughs. We will miss him.

The end came very suddenly Dad and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you passed. It was very sad to witness your decline over the past 12 months, watching the illness take a hold of you and your physical condition worsen. As usual, you just got on with it, never feeling sorry for yourself or asking much of others. I will choose to remember you when you were a younger man, particularly when Mum was part of our life. The wonderful Christmases and Easter together, playing ‘Chase the Lady’ and ‘Solo’ (You want me to go a spread?”), charades (you were terrible at it!) and quizzes. The wonderful family holidays to Orlando in the 1990s. Golfing at Thorpe Hall and in Portugal (”straight but not very long again Dad”). Dining at the Sambuca on London Road. Very happy memories. You were our last direct link to the ‘old days’ and now that really is the end of an era. I hope you are at peace now and surrounded by your loved ones. As you always said, “Life is to be enjoyed, not endured”. I will miss you Dad x