Esher District Local History Society

Obituaries

19th February 1914 - 3rd December 2007

Anthony Mitchell was born in London, the son of a Fleet Street journalist, and lived in Surrey for most of his life. He developed a keen interest in history - and English literature from an early age. After a brief career in journalism, interrupted by service with H.M. Forces, he entered the Civil Service, serving in various government departments, including the Patent Office.

After retirement he fully occupied his time with the study of local history, and writing. He was for 13 years the Honorary Secretary of the EDLHS and remained a member. In 1990 his book on the life and work of Thomas Earp, the Victorian sculptor, his maternal grandfather, was published.

The illustration alongside is from the front cover of a book he published in 1995, Esher, A Pictorial History. The book contains a superb range of pictures, each carefully captioned, giving a vivid insight into the life of Esher. It has a wealth of information about the locality and has assisted many people to increase their knowledge of the area.

A Requiem Mass was held at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Thames Ditton on 13th December 2007 before his interment at Molesey Cemetery.

Derek Leonard Brown

26th August 1919 - 4th July 2007

Vice-President

This Obituary appeared in an August edition of the Esher News and Mail.

Former district librarian of the then Esher Urban District, a founder member of Esher Literary Society and of Esher District Local History Society, Derek Brown has died in Nantwich, Cheshire, aged 87. In a tribute Gordon Weaver, former director of the Wolsey Press and managing editor of the Esher News, said: Derek always tried to make his libraries places that people were glad to visit., thinking of himself as "mine host" to the world of books. "A cheerful, helpful and unassuming man, who always had time for people, he played a significant part in developing the interests of the communities in which he worked and lived." Mr. Brown was appointed Esher District librarian in 1957 and brought his wife Barbara and their two daughters Joyce and Linda to live in Oak Lodge Close, Hersham, where he became secretary of the local residents' association, was a member of St. Peters Church parochial council, edited the parish magazine and served as both sidesman and vice-chairman of the church fellowship.

He played a prominent part in Esher life during the 17 years he was district librarian, hosting art and photographic exhibitions. He organised monthly lectures in King George's Hall, now continued by Elmbridge Council as the Royston Pike Lectures, named after the author and former Esher council chairman. Mr. Brown worked closely with Royston Pike and they arranged many events, including displaying the local history collections in St. George's Church. There was an active programme for children in which he was helped by local residents such as the author Antonia Ridge and playwright RC Sherriff and other authors. During his tenure, new branch libraries were opened at Thames Ditton and Molesey, and when Esher Urban District became Elmbridge in 1974 Mr Brown was appointed assistant county librarian for Surrey County Library's northern group, with his headquarters in Weybridge. He retired early in 1980 to care for his wife, a sufferer from Parkinson's Disease, and they moved to Cheltenham to be nearer their family. After her death in 1987 he took an active part in the town's life serving local societies and as vice chairman of Cheltenham Liberal Democrats.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Derek Brown took place on Friday 2nd November 2007 at St Peter's Church, Leckhampton

Ray Lewis

13th October 1933 - 11th November 2006

Hon. Treasurer 2001 - 2006

A tribute read at Ray's Funeral

Arthur Raymond Lewis: gentleman; much loved husband, father and grandfather; Royal Air Force Officer, aircrew navigator; Chartered Accountant; Entrepreneur; Businessman; Chairman of government and charitable bodies; encourager of young people; gourmet; a man of many dimensions.

I first met Ray on the 16th September 1952, which was the first day of our National Service in the Royal Air Force. We became and remained firm friends for the rest of our lives. Fresh from school, we learnt new excitements, such as marching to breakfast by the light of the moon and giving attention to those mysterious things in officer training - Personal Qualities, or PQs. Ray very soon showed his qualities when planning to get home for Christmas from the Isle of Man, where we were stationed. Most of us had our eyes fixed on the dreary boat to Liverpool, but Ray calmly chartered an aeroplane and sold us seats! This was an indicator of so much of the pattern of his later life:

Rational analysis of needs

Identification of an opportunity

Willingness to take risks (he might not have sold all the seats on the Dakota)

Resolution to see a project through

These were shown when, as a partner in a successful accounting firm - Sturges, Fraser, Cave & Co - he astonished us all by deciding to leave the profession and become first finance director, then managing director, and finally chairman of Frazer Nash. And so progressively he built-up an impressive range of top management activities:

Finance Director and then Chairman of the Salamander Group of Property Companies

Chairman of Surrey Training and Enterprise Council

Treasurer of Cranfield University

Chairman of the Group of Trading Companies owned by Cranfield University

Chairman of the Elmbridge Independent Mediation Service

Chairman of the Grange at Bookham, which cares for the disabled

He had an active role in the Prince's Trust, and in the Year in Industry scheme - for giving industrial experience to young people either before or during their university years.

In all of these activities he added to the earlier qualities of rationality and enterprise a concern for people in their work, and a wider interest in the different elements of society - business, government and charitable services - how they worked and helping them to work better together. Where I have had cause to speak to these organizations, the message has always been the same - Ray made an outstanding contribution, whether in finance, in strategy or day to day management: he was very competent, and also very considerate of others.

His style of operation brought many different types of people together in common enterprises and in constructive co-operation. He was held in great affection and esteem. One friend and colleague has written:

"Whilst it was common business interests that brought us together, relationships were always warm and personal and went well beyond those of working colleagues. He was a true friend over the thirty or so years I knew him, and worked with him, and never once do I recall any disagreement or conflict. This must be very unusual. He was the perfect Chairman - wise, patient, learned, conscientious, but above all unfailingly sensitive to those around him".

One characteristic to which children and, I am sure, most of the children of his friends can testify, was a strong and supportive interest in young people and their development. Excellent lunches - they were always excellent lunches - with Ray and Anne would be quietly accompanied by penetrating questions about career plans and situations. To a degree, they had to sing for their supper, but afterwards they were the stronger for it.

And then this dreadful illness of these last months. We all experience the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, but this seemed particularly harsh - coming from nowhere and quickly taking Ray from amongst us. His response was stoical: "There is no cure". But despite this we still managed the occasional glass of champagne. Champagne, of course, was one of the enjoyment themes of Ray's life and I ask you now - in your mind - to raise a metaphorical glass, in memory of a good man: his presence enriched us: his passing reminds us of what we have lost.

Thank you

PDA

24th November 2006

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