George Browning

George Browning was brought up to be a Farmer who also became a Bricklayer after he left school. Born in Pennington, he had 2 brothers: Jack (John) and Billy who died a short while after his birth and also 5 sisters: Margorie, Anne, Mary, Doris and Bettie who died of TB aged about 15yrs.

George met Glenda Chard and they married after a five year Engagement. They made their home in Ashley and had a Son: Robert and 3 Daughters: Sandra, Linda and Claire. In 1978 they settled in New Milton, Hampshire.

Dad was a very stronge willed and stubborn man but he loved his family very much. He never liked to be wronge but on the rare occassion was. Always the provider and a very proud man.

Mum was everything to him and he loved her deeply. Together they made a great team. They loved their garden, Mum would choose the plants and Dad would plant them. When everything bloomed it was quite spectactular. He grew his own fruit and veg. A very green-fingered man who could grow almost anything. While Dad worked Mum would keep the grass mown and kept the hedges tidy.

The same teamwork was clear in the home. Mum would choose the wallpaper, paint, furnishings, etc. She would strip the old wallpaper off,sand down and paint the woodwork. Dad would paint the ceilings and paper the walls.

As us Children got older we would help out in both the home and the garden.

As Grandparents,(Papa and Nana), they had 14 Grandchildren: Kirk, Kayleigh, Stacey, Corinne, Tina, Julia, Martin, Tiffany, Ian, Dana, Michael, Jack, Scott and Courtney. Also a Great-Grandfather to Shannon, Aaron, Cameron, Sahara, Gracie, Mazie and another Great-Grandchildren is expected.

Dad also kept pigs, chickens and rabbits while their family was growing up. Although talking of animals he enjoyed a flutter on the horses and won sometimes. He loved watching sport ie: Footie, Darts, Snooker, Boxing, Wrestling, Cricket, Horse racing, Athletics, etc. Other times he would doodle, draw or make plastercine roses to impress us.

In 1999 Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimers and Dad did his best to look after her on his own. We all helped in one way or another but Dad was to proud to ask for outside help. So he ended up getting what's called, Carer's burnout. He finally listened to us when he realised he couldn't cope anymore and asked for professional help. As things were being sorted out in 2001 he had his first stroke from which he did recover from.

In 2006, he suffered a second stroke, which left him bedridden with paralasis completely down his left side and a blood clot in the left side of his neck. This meant he was living on borrowed time now because if the clot moved to either the brain, lungs or heart he would die. Over the year his speech became worse until we were guessing what he was trying to say or had to figure out what he wanted. This frustrated him very much and mad him angry and upset. It was heart breaking to watch him deteriate from a once extremely strong man, not only in body but also in mind.

Then in August 2007 he suffered his 3rd stroke which left him in and out of conciousness. We all flocked to his bedside because the Doctors didn't think he'd make it through the night. I myself was able to stay with him all through the night holding his hand and talking quietly to him. When morning came he woke up and even managed some smiles. The following day it was discovered he'd got a urine infection and also a chest infection so he was taken to Hospital for treatment. They kept him in for a few days to keep an eye on him. He looked worn out poor man! The Hospital spoke to Robert (our elder Brother) and Keith (our Brother-in-law) who were Power of Attornies for Dad. There was an important choice to be made concerning Dad: Do we keep force-feeding him or do we withdraw feeding and allow nature to take it's course? Robert asked us all what we thought we should do and what we thought Dad would want? We all agreed to let him go and let nature take it's course. So that's exactly what we did and on 19th August he passed peacefully away in his sleep at 9.10pm. Dad has found peace at last and now watches over Mum til it's her time to join him so they can be together for eternity.

Those of us who knew him and loved him have a certain memory of him: A FLAT CAP, THERMAL T-SHIRT (EITHER WHITE/BLUE), JEANS HELD UP WITH BLUE/ORANGE OR NATURAL STRING, GREEN WELLIES AND A HAND-ROLLED CIGARETTE IN THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH.

"GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU OUR BELOVED GEORGE, TIL WE MEET AGAIN!" @>-}--}---

Dad's Garden.

I'd watch you for hours as you'd work in the garden,
wearing those green wellies, that peaked cap,
at the edge of your mouth a hand-rolled cig.
Many questions I'd ask you as you busily dig,
Like, 'Daddy why you doing that?'
Or, 'Daddy what's that for?'

So many flowers and shrubs,
not only in the flower beds,
but in hanging baskets, pots and tubs.
Such a beautiful sight to see,
A rainbow of colour,
to attract the Butterflies and Bees.

The vegetable patch, you'd rotivate,
and painstakingly sow the seeds,
you watered them all daily and got rid of all the weeds.
Lettuces, cucumbers, beetroots and tomatoes,
runner beans, potatoes, carrots and peas,
always something delicious to eat for our teas.

There were gooseberries and blackberries,
blackcurrants and strawberries.
That huge weeping willow,
with branches that swayed in the breeze,
and when we couldn't find you we knew where you'd be,
fast asleep on the bench under the apple tree.

~*~ Claire ~*~