Linda Margaret Brown (27 Mar 1961 - 19 Jul 2026)

In loving memory of Linda Margaret Brown who sadly passed away on 19th July 2026

Linda Margaret Brown was born at her parents’ home in the Fairway in Leigh-on-sea on 27th March 1961, and for a large part of her life lived in that same house. She went to school just up the road, at Fairways primary school, and then from 11 (after a short stint in a very small private school in Westcliff-on-sea, which she didn’t really enjoy) went to Belfairs High School, just a bus ride away – now more grandly known as Belfairs Academy.

From when she was young Linda had a passion for horses. All through school she spent most of her free time at Moncrief Stables, about a twenty-minute walk from her house – having fun with her friends and looking after the horses there – and when she was a bit older actually taking out rides for paying customers (health and safety wasn’t the big thing it is now).

When she first left school, she went to work full-time at the stables and would have stayed there forever if the pay had been better. Instead, she decided to do a secretarial course and after a couple of other jobs that she didn’t like much, she found the one that she did like and stayed at for many years – a small place in Leigh that did woodworm and damp treatments – where she ran the office on behalf of the owner.

Later in her life she worked in the offices of an insurance underwriter in London, for the local social services in Leigh, and did a lot of temping (which she was good at, as she was clever and always picked up how to do whatever jobs were thrown at her very quickly) – but she always looked back that little woodworm shop as the happiest place where she ever worked.

Linda’s passion for horses, never truly dampened, was rekindled when she bought her horse “Alf” in her late twenties and kept him at Rayleigh Downs stables (just of the A127 near her parents’ house). Alf did his best to test that passion, being young and unpredictable and prone to bolting off (with or without the rider still in place), and in the end he was sold and a much steadier horse, Jessica, was bought. She was the horse-love of Linda’s life, and Linda learned to jump on her, and for many summers took her to local shows in an aging horsebox and won many (no, really a lot) of rosettes.

Throughout school, her work life, and afterwards Linda always had very good friends. She kept them through thick and thin, and they were always there for her. Linda was easy to like. She was fun, with a wicked sense of humour never far under the surface. She could get on with anyone. And everyone will always remember her laugh, and her warmth.

She will be – is already – missed.