Jane Neves
05-11 2020 17:01
wrote:
Memories of Brian ( from Jim, Becky, Ben, Louis & Jamie )
It has been an honour and a privilege to have known Brian over the past 20 years, having become part of our close family when he married Maureen and became our brother and sister in law and doting uncle to our three sons Ben, Louis & Jamie.
Over the years we got to know Brian well & as a small tribute to him, we wanted to share with you just a few special memories of him that show his special qualities & unique sense of humour.
One such memory, was when Brian shared a holiday with us at Slaley Hall in Northumberland back in 2004. It was a time when Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt and the England football team were playing in Newcastle and luckily for us fans were also training and staying at the same hotel.
It was Brian who found this out after spotting the England coach parked in the hotel car park and again it was Brian who found out where we could watch the squad practice and later where he could take the boys to get up close and personal with the players.
A crowd had gathered at the hotel entrance to see them as they left, with everyone being typically British, well mannered & polite . Then Brian in his inimitable, Sheffield accent boomed out , “ hey Becks, over here , some boys want to meet you.” Brian firmly ushered the boys to the front of the crowd where he made sure they took centre stage & were noticed by the players. Brian organised autographs for them whilst engaging famous faces in memorable chats with his nephews from the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen, David James, Sir Trevor Brooking and others. This was typical of Brian, outgoing & friendly in his personality and using it to the benefit of others. The boys have never forgotten this & still treasure the autographs & very special memory of Brian making this all possible.
Another memory from the boys was when Brian took them to the cinema to watch The Simpsons movie. They recall hearing Brian belly laughing all the way through the film, getting every joke , children’s & adults alike. One scene in this film sparked Brian sharing a memory with the boys of a similar incident that occurred when he was in the army.
In the film an electrical zapper was thrown into a lake & dead fish came to the surface - Brian reminisced how he & fellow army guys used a grenade to do an identical prank & never owned up to it, despite the rage of their Sgt Major .
More recently, we all smiled when Brian took us to lunch at his new favourite restaurant, Green Oak Farm: he had been telling us for weeks how great the carvery here was & we must try it. When we arrived & asked him how the ordering system worked to go & choose the carvery, he replied “ I have no idea . I’ve not had it.”
We want to thank Brian hugely for his selflessness in caring for Maureen during many years of disability with MS . We know his sense of humour kept Maureen going and more recently when he had his own health issues , he appeared to never let his own problems get him down , right up until his last stay in hospital where he kept the nurses laughing with his jokes & good humour.
We will all miss his weekly visits to us where we watched sport all together, before and after enjoying a big Sunday roast & where he reminisced & regailed us all about his childhood & early years in Sheffield.
Thank you Brian for being such a special husband to Maureen, brother in law to us & Uncle to Ben Louis & Jamie.
Jane Neves
05-11 2020 17:01
wrote:
Memories of Brian ( from Jim, Becky, Ben, Louis & Jamie )
It has been an honour and a privilege to have known Brian over the past 20 years, having become part of our close family when he married Maureen and became our brother and sister in law and doting uncle to our three sons Ben, Louis & Jamie.
Over the years we got to know Brian well & as a small tribute to him, we wanted to share with you just a few special memories of him that show his special qualities & unique sense of humour.
One such memory, was when Brian shared a holiday with us at Slaley Hall in Northumberland back in 2004. It was a time when Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt and the England football team were playing in Newcastle and luckily for us fans were also training and staying at the same hotel.
It was Brian who found this out after spotting the England coach parked in the hotel car park and again it was Brian who found out where we could watch the squad practice and later where he could take the boys to get up close and personal with the players.
A crowd had gathered at the hotel entrance to see them as they left, with everyone being typically British, well mannered & polite . Then Brian in his inimitable, Sheffield accent boomed out , “ hey Becks, over here , some boys want to meet you.” Brian firmly ushered the boys to the front of the crowd where he made sure they took centre stage & were noticed by the players. Brian organised autographs for them whilst engaging famous faces in memorable chats with his nephews from the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen, David James, Sir Trevor Brooking and others. This was typical of Brian, outgoing & friendly in his personality and using it to the benefit of others. The boys have never forgotten this & still treasure the autographs & very special memory of Brian making this all possible.
Another memory from the boys was when Brian took them to the cinema to watch The Simpsons movie. They recall hearing Brian belly laughing all the way through the film, getting every joke , children’s & adults alike. One scene in this film sparked Brian sharing a memory with the boys of a similar incident that occurred when he was in the army.
In the film an electrical zapper was thrown into a lake & dead fish came to the surface - Brian reminisced how he & fellow army guys used a grenade to do an identical prank & never owned up to it, despite the rage of their Sgt Major .
More recently, we all smiled when Brian took us to lunch at his new favourite restaurant, Green Oak Farm: he had been telling us for weeks how great the carvery here was & we must try it. When we arrived & asked him how the ordering system worked to go & choose the carvery, he replied “ I have no idea . I’ve not had it.”
We want to thank Brian hugely for his selflessness in caring for Maureen during many years of disability with MS . We know his sense of humour kept Maureen going and more recently when he had his own health issues , he appeared to never let his own problems get him down , right up until his last stay in hospital where he kept the nurses laughing with his jokes & good humour.
We will all miss his weekly visits to us where we watched sport all together, before and after enjoying a big Sunday roast & where he reminisced & regailed us all about his childhood & early years in Sheffield.
Thank you Brian for being such a special husband to Maureen, brother in law to us & Uncle to Ben Louis & Jamie.
