Obituaries, Eulogies, Memories & Orders of Service: #4 - 1950 to 1999
Updated: Oct 13
At a meeting of the Thursley History Society early in 2025, it was agreed that the website should include a post for our many beloved villagers who are no longer with us. Our archive contains a lot of information and we shall gradually build up this entry retrospectively. If you would like to contribute any obituaries, eulogies, memories, orders of service or photographs (especially where none exist on the website) please do so via the website: https://www.thursleyhistorysociety.org/contact
Lives celebrated: Ann Banks; Jane Brownrigg; Brian Camp; John Holt; Anthony Kentish
Kathleen Jane Brownrigg: Died 10th September 1999
Jane joined us at the Hollies in the Summer term of 1985 to help us with music. She was delighted to be amongst children again and she was like an honorary grandmother to all of them. She came regularly every Wednesday: she didn't always stick to nursery rhymes, we were treated to 'the Lambeth Walk' or an outburst of jazz, until we gently led her back to the matter in hand. Jane adored the children and was always keen to follow their progress even after they had left the Hollies. She was such a gentle, kind and gracious lady; still in touch with modern youth and retaining real interest in other people. She had a great gift with people of all ages, always showing real interest in them. With her insuppressable sense of humour, we had great fun over the years. How could we forget Jane in the fire engine (complete with fireman's hat), Jane on a farm cart at Loseley, memorable Christmas concerts, Jane draped with several children queuing up for their cuddle... Jane standing obediently and patiently while Shirley cleaned several day's worth of face powder off her glasses, while she was buttoned up having arrived with all her buttons undone... or laughing as we scolded her for not doing up her boots and scuffing as she walked along the corridor... and no-one who ever had Jane for music will ever forget THAT TUNE... that good old standby which was the first tune she had ever learnt, which meant she could play and turn around and watch the children at the same time!
Needless to say, over the years that Jane was a part of the Hollies, she was greatly loved by us all, staff and children alike.
Alison Anderson, Shirley Cole & Dilla Davis, for The Hollies
Further Tribute from the Parish Magazine December 1999
Jane was a Devonian who never lost her affection for her native county but spent her married life helping her husband, Charles, to run Fernden School and bringing up their three children, Linda, Andrew and Johnnie. She married Charles in 1939 and was his greatest support and ally. She was immensely fond of children and had trained as a Norland nannie, so was just the person to look after generations of small boys who needed mothering. The great affection Fernden boys had for "Mrs Charles" was ample evidence of how much she meant to many of them.
When she and Charles came towards retirement they bought Baker's Cottages which they converted into Wild Goose and finally settled into the village in 1975. Jane quickly became a friend to all the neighbours, including their children. Charles ran cricket coaching for local children and Jane was a popular part of these sessions - as befitted someone who was a past Captain of the Devon Ladies Cricket Team!
Her talent for friendship and kindness touched all her friends in Thursley - she will be much missed.
Marion O'Brien
Brian Edward Camp: 1928 - 5th September 1999
These tributes came from Thursley Parish Council & Community and published in the Parish Magazine October 1999:
It is with enormous regret and sadness we record here the death of our chairman Brian Camp. Brian had been a council member since 1973 and chairman for the past 20 years. During this remarkably long period he worked with great energy and enthusiasm and with a powerful sense of duty, always with the interests of Thursley and its residents in mind. With his experience at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, he was a force to be reckoned with in matters relating to local government and the residents of Thursley could take comfort from the fact that they had a man like Brian fighting their corner on issues ranging from planning, police matters, highways, footpaths and finance.
Brian was a dedicated and tenacious lobbyist and was renowned up to national government level for his tireless efforts to resolve the traffic issues in Thursley. The right hand turn into Thursley off the south-bound A3 became his personal crusade and resolution of the Hindhead bypass problem was his dearest wish.
Council meetings under Brian's chairmanship were lively, controversial, unpredictable and amusing. Representatives of the press and Surrey and Waverley councils were regular attendees as a result. To his fellow parish councillors, Brian's selfless dedication to his duties was a shining example to be emulated and his wise counsel will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are very much with Lynda, David and Harriet in their tragic loss.
Dear Friends – Letter from Revd William Lang (Oct 1999):
This last month saw the death of a remarkable man one who gave over his retirement entirely to his young family and to this parish. He served both the Parish Council and the Parochial Church Council over many years, and was a keen member of the Horticultural Society and Secretary to the Thursley Charity, but he deserves to be remembered every bit as much as a loving and conscientious husband and father.
I said at his funeral, "One of the things that marked Brian out was his tremendous sense of duty, whatever he turned his hand to, he would pursue it diligently and doggedly a wonderful person to have on your side, and a wearisome opponent!" and certainly, Brian never gave up not even at the end, for he was still making plans and drafting letters until a few days before his death.
I also said, "It is undoubtedly as the Chairman of the Parish Council [from 1973 to 1999] that he has really left his mark here as the champion of 'Thursley for Thursley people'. The phrase in the local press: 'The Chairman, Major Brian Camp, said...' must have presaged quite a few chills in officialdom and thrills among the locals. He deplored the depletion of the village's facilities; he implored the authorities to create a safe A3 crossing; he explored every proposal, however small, with a rigour which few appreciated (unless he was on your side) but which was done (as far as he was concerned) with scrupulous fairness. He had a tremendous ability to master detail - and, if necessary, great chunks of legislation and he loved playing with words. When he was in a good mood he was very witty; when he wasn't, he could be abrupt past the point of rudeness - I don't think he could always tell the difference."
We all saw the 'public face', heard the 'public voice', but comparatively few in the village knew Brian as the 'affable Dad'. Members of (for instance) the Elstead Mother and Toddler Group saw a very different side to him one which Lynda, David and Harriet will now sorely miss, and our hearts go out to them as they begin to face life without him.
I concluded, "Brian loved Thursley, and he loved its wildlife; his walks with Tammy were a source of great contentment to him; but above all, he loved his family. He may be dead, but he will not, I think, leave us" and indeed, his contributions to the life of Thursley and to his family have been considerable and will be, I feel sure, lasting ones.
William Lang
Anthony John Kentish: 1911 - 1998
Anthony lived at Sunset Cottage
From the Parish Magazine August 1999:
Anthony Kentish, or "Ant" to all his friends, went to Mill Hill School where he made numerous lifetime friends. Ant was a great sportsman, active in his time, playing rugger and sailing, and he continued to support the Old Millhillian Society.
Ant's grandfather was in the wine trade and Ant joined the firm H. Parrott, eventually becoming Chairman. During the War he served in the Artillery. However, the wine trade continued to be his great love.
He was a traditionalist and completely unflappable in any situation, extricating himself from anything awkward with characteristic calm. Through his wine connections he grew to know and love Portugal and there he met Ros, a talented artist painting under the name of Ros Kent. They were married and lived amongst us in Bowlhead Green at Lower House for many happy years, extending great hospitality.
After Ros's death Ant moved to Sunset Cottage where he married Anna. He continued to be very much part of the village life, being a Parish Councillor, Chairman of the Conservatives and a keen supporter of all village activities. He had a great capacity for enjoyment and making other people feel happy around him, and will be very much missed by all his friends whose lives he so enriched.
John Bayley Holt
Admiral Holt lived in Sailors Lane. He retired from the Navy in 1970 and spent the remainder of his life at his home in Thursley. He was married in 1940 to Olga Esme Creake and had three daughters.
Ann Paton Banks: 17th December 1920 - 5th April 1998
