News and Obituary on Sidney C. Brown who died on 15th June 2006

If you found this page via a search engine and there are no navigation bars to the left click here>  www.doubleguns.co.uk/aabrown/AABN.htm

In September 2004 Sidney Brown suffered several small strokes which,initially, seriously affected his memory. Now, in 2005, he is making steady progress and his levels of concentration have improved considerably.  He was 88 on the 12th of  November 2004  It is fortunate that he voiced his reminiscences for our history page earlier this year as he is unsure about his memories of the trade now.  On 20th June 2005 he, along with his wife, Mary (known as Mem) celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.   However, we are very sad to report the death of Mem Brown, on 16th July 2005, aged 84.  She had suffered a long illness and it is some consolation that she has been released from further suffering.  She will be greatly missed.  

2006 update : Sidnay is still living in the family home with the help of carers and family.  He is physically well but tires easily.  His short term memory is poor however, he remembers the names of most customers Robin mentions to him and can even recall what guns they own.  In April 2006 Sidney was admitted to hospital following a deterioration in his health, as of 9th June he is still there and has undergone some surgery for a renal impairment.  Whilst he survived this, in spite of being almost 90, the chances of a full recovery with return to his own home now seems remote.  He is still in hospital and when a significant change in his health occurs we will report it here. 

LATEST NEWS   It is with sadness that we report that on 15th June 2006 Sidney died in the Queen Elisabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after a short illness.  Whilst we are relieved that he is released from a condition he could not recover from the loss is great and he will be missed by all of his family and friends.  We will place an obituary to him on this site in the near future.   His funeral was at the Robin Hood Crematorium, Streetsbrook Road, Solihull on Friday 23rd June at 13.30 followed by a wake at the Kings Heath Cricket and Sports Club, Kings Heath, Birmingham.  At the funeral Pat's daughter Rebecca and Robin's son Oliver, read eulogies and on exit a song called 'Stay' by Robin's other son, Matthew, ( AKA !! ELiSON !! ) was played. Pat and Robin are very grateful to all those who attended and wish to thank the people who generously donated to the 'memorial bench fund', this for a bench in Mem and Sid Brown's name to be placed on the surround to the bowling green at K.H. C.&S. Club in their memory.

*******************************

This eulogy was read by Oliver Brown, Grandson, at the funeral of Sidney Brown.

 

 

A brief resumé of the working and sporting life of Sid Brown, my Grandfather.

 

Born on 12th November 1916 in Birmingham into a family of gunmakers it was inevitable that Sidney should, along with his father, Albert A. Brown and his elder brother, Albert. H, become one of the co founders of the then fledgling gunmakers to be known as A A Brown & Sons. 

This was in 1938 and not long after formation the firm found itself working for the war effort as specialised tool makers.  Gramps also became a fire watch warden spending many nights on the roofs of high buildings in Birmingham spotting fires and reporting their location to the fire fighting services.  He witnessed the bombing and destruction of the BSA factory and was lucky not to be killed on that dreadful night. 

 

After the war the firm returned to manufacture of sporting guns and Sid continued his training as a gun stocker and finisher.  In a small company it is necessary to be multi talented and he was no exception, learning many of the skills needed for most aspects of the building of fine guns.  Throughout the forties and fifties the firm made many guns, both boxlocks and sidelocks, mainly for the trade and Sidney developed a skill that he was to become an absolute expert in, that of freeing and finishing. 

 

This is an often unmentioned section of the gunmaking process that is, none the less, indispensable.  Most people who free and finish a new gun will admit to it being an arduous and difficult job, often frustrating, it involves taking the gun and all of its components, after case hardening of the action and major parts and then effectively, re-building the gun until it is a finished product.  Great care is needed throughout the process, it takes patience and knowledge of every aspect of the guns functions.   Sidney freed and finished thousands of guns during his working life.  Most bore the names of other makers but from the late sixties until 2003 all of the best guns made by A A Brown & Sons and bearing their name have been finished by him. 

 

While the entrepreneurial face of the business was that of his brother, Albert, the backbone was certainly Sidneys.  Partnership with his son, Robin, meant that Gramps had a long and lasting loyalty to the business that kept him in full and unbroken employment for an amazing 65 years.   He was a keen sportsman too, not as a shooting man but as an accomplished figure skater and a player of the games of cricket, tennis, table tennis and in later years, bowls.  He was an expert in all of these, playing in leagues to a high standard and winning many trophies. He even bowled for the Warwickshire county side on a number of occasions.  An important part of his sporting life was the Kings Heath Cricket and Sports Club where he captained teams in both tennis and bowls.  Just days before his death he was reminiscing about his table tennis exploits saying that he remembered winning the league championship several times.

 

He was a loyal husband and family man, after losing his wife last July after 63 years of marriage, he leaves two children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren who will miss him dreadfully as he was such a kind, gentle and lovely man.  A close family friend said recently of him, "It was good to have known him, someone who was as straight as a gun barrel who you knew you could trust."  What better testimonial could he have had?

 

He died in hospital after a short illness on 15th June 2006.

 

****************************************************