Don Brownridge (4 Nov 1932 - 22 Feb 2016)

In loving memory of (Don) Donald George Brownridge who sadly passed away on 22nd February 2016, aged 83 years.

On the 4th of November 1932, Don was welcomed into the world by his parents Alice and George in Paddington, London.

During his childhood, Don attended Chamberlayne Road School in Kensal Rise. As a child, Don’s mother would take him to the music halls and to the cinema. This developed in him a lifelong love of music and also films, especially silent movies featuring such greats as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. On one occasion when he was a young boy, Don even met Charlie Chaplin, who patted him on the head. The whole family would also gather together every Sunday where there was often music.

At the age of fourteen, Don began his working life as a bookseller in Shepherds Bush Market, the bookstall having been set up by his father. Apart from a brief period of three months serving in the RAF for his National Service, Don remained in the book trade until he retired.

In the early 1950s, Don met the woman who was to become his wife, Beryl. He had his own car, which in those days was quite rare. Their relationship blossomed and they exchanged their vows of marriage at the Presbyterian Church, Brondesbury in 1955.

Between the years of 1955 and 1959, Don and Beryl had various holidays abroad every year. They were quite pioneering and extravagant in what they did, even taking their car in the plane. As young adults, Don and Beryl had a really good social life too, with a large network of friends. They held lots of enormous parties over the years, for instance, fancy dress and they went to many organised by their friends. Don thoroughly enjoyed them all.

In December 1959, they were delighted with the arrival of their daughter Wendy. Five days before Wendy turned one, Don and his family moved to a brand new house in Frogmore, Blackwater. Don then commuted every day to Shepherds Bush by coach. A couple of years later in August 1963, Don and Beryl celebrated the birth of their son, Paul. Siamese cats were a part of the family too, which Don always had in pairs.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, many family holidays were taken, often as an extended family. There would be about sixteen of them, including Don’s cousins Jack and Elsie. They were only children like Don and all three of them were so close to each other, like brother and sister. The family would all go together in a minibus and would camp in such places as Spain and Italy. Don and Beryl continued to go abroad after the children had left home. Don was an avid reader as was Beryl and when they were away, the two of them would always have their nose in a book.

Wendy and Paul married and settled down, with Graham and Rosie respectively. Don and Beryl became grandparents to Holly, born in 1984; Ashleigh, born in 1990 and Fraser, born in 1993. Don was always so patient with them. Ashleigh has fond memories of her Grandad and Grandma taking them to Beryl’s brother Neil’s caravan in Swanage.

Don retired from bookselling in 2000 and that same year, he and Beryl made their home in Yateley. A few years later in 2005, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a huge party, of course.

Sadly, in recent years, Don’s health declined and eventually he moved into St Thomas Care Home in Basingstoke. It was here that he passed away on the 22nd of February 2016. He and Beryl had been married for over 60 years.