Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich)
David M J Brown (07 May 1942 - 05 October 2018)
It was with regret and sadness that I heard from Roy Adams of the passing of David.
I first met David in the early 1960s when I worked in the Shell-Mex and British Petroleum office in Landseer Road, Ipswich. David had just joined the company after finishing his apprenticeship on heavy goods vehicle maintenance with Eastern Counties Bus Co. Buses were to become one of his passions in life.
David introduced me to astronomy. He became a member of OASI, and retained an association with the Society for the rest of his life, latterly becoming a trustee. After I became Chairman of the Society, he and I and other members arranged an open day at Orwell Park to raise money for restoring the Observatory and telescope. Around this time, Anglia Television made a short film in the Bygones series showing the condition of the Observatory.
Davis was cremated at Horsham St Faith, Norfolk. The crematorium has a capacity of over two hundred and it was full with many standing. Mourners travelled from Doncaster, Harrogate, Surrey, South London and Ipswich. Many family and friends travelled in a bus to the service. The bus was a British Leyland Routemaster which, several years ago, David and some friends had purchased and restored.
David will long be remembered for his active role in the early years of the Society and later as a Trustee.
Royston Cheesman