Mylander - Issue 86

40 Tribute - Mick Brown After leaving the RAF in 1960, for 21 years he also served as a Special Police Officer in Colchester reaching the rank of Sergeant. Mick worked for the GPO, later British Telecom, firstly in London where he met his future wife Margaret and subsequently at Telephone House in Colchester. He was a leading member of St Michael’s Church at Mile End and for five years was a Church Warden. He was a founding member of Myland History Society, and wrote articles for “The Mylander”. His long service to this part of Colchester was recognised in 2003 when Myland Community Council presented him with an Order of Merit “for extraordinary contributions to Scouting in Myland for more than 40 years and work for St Michael’s Church and Myland Community.” Mick was born in Bovington, Dorset, in 1938, and his early years were spent living at Aldershot and then Newport in Wales. The family moved to the Colchester area in 1948 when his father, a former Welsh miner who had served in the Tank Regiment in the Second World War, was appointed agent for Colchester’s then Labour MP, Charles Smith. An only child, for a year he and his parents lived on a houseboat at West Mersea before moving in 1949 to Chitts Hill at Lexden. His mother, officially Mildred but known as Pat, came from Weston-super-Mare. His father, Ivor Brown, was later elected to Colchester Borough Council and was Mayor in 1960-61. He also served on Essex County Council. Mick Brown attended St John’s Green Primary School before passing the 11-plus examination to go to the Colchester Royal Grammar School. A Sixth Form friend, Peter Bowers who lived in Mile End Road and who was in the Scouts, encouraged Mick to help with the new Scout Group being formed at St Michael’s Church. Mick had never been in the Scouts, but had been in the Sea Cadets. A private funeral was held due to the current restrictions. This took place on 21st December at Colchester Crematorium, with the service officiated by the Reverend Ray Gibbs from St Michael’s Myland. Representatives from Colchester Scouting provided a guard of honour as the hearse arrived at the Crematorium. There will be a thanksgiving service in due course. The family have set up a JustGiving page in Mick Brown’s memory, raising money for St Michael’s Church at Myland, Thorrington Scout camp site, and British Heart Foundation: You can donate by CLICKING HERE Sir Bob Russell