Brian Gibbs (18 May 1932 - 4 Dec 2019)

In loving memory of Brian Marston Gibbs who sadly passed away on 4th December 2019.

A loving Father of three children, Stephen, Owen and Lucie, a Grandfather of six, and Great Grandfather of five.

He was born into a long line of farming families at Beck Hythe, (yes still a small hamlet) between Little Melton and Hethersett, moving to Vine Cottage, Little Melton as a small child where he began learning his many skills which would serve him well during his lifetime, like welding, forgework, lathe skills etc. as well as all things to do with growing strawberries, tomatoes, lettuces and many other horticultural produce. In fact during the war while the bunker was being built at Bawburgh (Colney), he would drive the farm truck across the road to the RAF bunker to collect materials which needed welding or metal sections that needed altering, taking them to the farm where he would help his dad make the necessary alterations and returning them to the site. This obviously stood him in good stead for his first job away from the farm as a welder.

He was a person whose motto was 'make do and mend' to which he was often found making all sorts of items like trellis for the garden or metal gates and fencing rather than buying them. Nothing was ever thrown away but stored in case it was needed for some creation, project or repair in the future. He didn't agree with the throw away world that has become the norm today.

He met Beryl at school and later after leaving school he would often visit her (obviously smitten) in Norwich where she was living at the YWCA. He would cycle everywhere, belonging to the Norwich City Cycling Club where they thought nothing of cycling on a Sunday from Norwich to Cromer then along the coast to Yarmouth and back to Norwich to then catch the last evening film at the ABC Cinema that used to be on Prince Of Wales Road. In fact he once recounted a time when Beryl was on holiday in Felixstowe and he cycled there one weekend to visit her for the day (wow - commitment or what?).

After marrying Beryl and spending some time living with his parents at Vine Cottage, they settled in Bawburgh after the birth of Stephen in 1954. Shortly after this he unfortunately injured his back severely after lifting a too heavy sack of corn, so eventually retraining in radio & TV repairs, later starting his own business to which he carried on even past retirement age. Even after having issues with his back he wasn't one to sit and ponder, in the early days taking part in many adrenaline fuelled sports including sailing, diving, surfing, water skiing and other activities, not letting his back pain keep him from what he loved doing, and later in life he would still enjoy going on very long walks.

Brian was a very popular, friendly chap due to his knowledge and ability to chat to anyone and everyone about anything. He was a very sociable person with a strong social conscience. He became a Freemen of Norwich by ascension being the son of a Freemen, serving several terms of office on the Freemen's Charity Committee which involved deciding along with others which other charities would receive financial support from the Freemen's Charity, like Scouts, Guides etc. or other charity bodies such as the Theatre Royal and Dragons Hall. He thoroughly enjoyed his time supporting the Norwich Freemen's Charity but alas due to deteriorating back problems and hearing loss had to reluctantly retire from the committee. He did however carry on serving with the Drayton Organ Club Committee, having learnt to play piano as a child and later in life converting to playing the electronic organ, loving many different types of music with his favourite being all things classical and loving to listen to anything by Andre Rieu.

Brian along with Beryl enjoyed many a touring holiday in the caravan visiting many different places all over Britain, sometimes more than once revisiting favourite places. Also venturing to France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, and Yugoslavia which in the 1970,s and 80's was no mean feat. They also travelled to Canada and Florida several times to visit his brother Frank and family. He was very adventurous and enjoyed many varied hobbies and past times including Photography, but at the same time being an extremely hard worker running his radio & TV repair business and looking after his much loved garden which he took great delight in keeping beautifully groomed and well stocked with a massive variety of colourful plants and flowers. Many of these he had received as cuttings from various family members and friends and some he had brought from the many places he had visited on holidays. Although he found it more difficult in later life to maintain such a lovely garden he always found the time even though it took much longer than it used to. His only gripe being the length of time it took him to cut such a big lawn.

He was married to Beryl for 50 years until she sadly passed away in 2003. He loved it when the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren came to visit and also when Grandchildren would accompany him and Beryl on caravan holidays, even if it was sometimes just for a weekend. Alas unfortunately without Beryl he could no longer enjoy caravaning without her.

Several years later he met Joan at the Organ Club and they formed a close friendship, with her companionship giving him the enthusiasm to enjoy regular outings to his favourite places of interest and restaurants.

Brian was like an encyclopedia when it came to Norfolk, Suffolk and places to visit having helped his father compile a family history finding out about his ancestry and close links to some rather large farms around Yarmouth, Acle etc including Waxham Barns being a part of this history. If you asked him where a particular place was he would not only tell you where it was but also the easiest route to get there, such was his memory.

As a father he was there with help and advice, sometimes biting his tongue if he didn't agree with something us kids were doing. He could be quite strict at times as was the norm of that generation, not standing for any bad behaviour or back chat, but for all this he could be said to be a jolly fine chap.