On 12th May 2008 Wickham lost one of its most respected residents, Brian Hall, who did so much for our local community.
Brian was born in Manchester on 13th March 1929 and attended Manchester Grammar School. A committed Christian, he served as an altar boy in his youth and attended Church regularly, latterly at Winchester Cathedral. In 1947 he began his career in the Royal Navy which was to last 41 years and brought him much success. He trained as a Naval Engineer at the Royal Naval Engineering College and this training and expertise as an engineer stood him in good stead throughout his life. He approached everything with the precision, careful consideration and reflection of an engineer before taking a direct course of action.
Brian spent much of his career in submarines working at the cutting edge of technology. He dealt initially with the experimental and very dangerous substance-the fuel High Test Peroxide. Later he progressed to working in nuclear submarines. Although submarines were his speciality, he served in a fascinating long list of ships: HMS Vanguard, Cadix, Indomitable, Albion, Blake, Artful, Explorer (which held the underwater speed record), Narwhal, Blake, Dolphin as well as HMS/M Explorer and Dreadnought. He worked at Rosyth and Portsmouth Dockyards, at the Ministry of Defence and was on the inspecting staff of Flag Officer Submarines He was promoted to the rank of Commander in Singapore after only serving a few weeks there and he received the MBE in recognition of his services.
Brian met Alison in 1955 on a climbing holiday in Skye. He proposed after only 4 meetings in 3 months and sold his MG car to buy the engagement ring. They were married in 1956. Brian was always a passionate mountaineer -he climbed Snowdon at the age of 7! -and climbed many of the mountains in Scotland and the Lake District. In their early married life he and Alison lived in a tent for 6 weeks on the Mull of Kintyre. Brian and Alison moved to Titchfield Lane in Wickham in 1961 where they have always lived in the village.
After retiring from the Navy in 1978 he worked for SCATS and latterly for Inter Europe in Fareham writing text books and manuals including those for the Thames Barrier. In 1978 he stood for election as a local District Councillor for Wickham on the Winchester City Council and began a new and successful career in local politics. He was well respected by his political colleagues from all parties for his sense of fairness, his thorough approach to council work and his considerate, gentlemanly manner. During his time on the Council he was very involved in planning and oversaw the introduction of the Council wheelie bin scheme.
From 1988/9 he was elected to be the 791st Mayor of Winchester. The Office of Mayor of Winchester is an old and prestigious mayoralty and is second only in rank to the Lord Mayor of London. Brian also gave freely of his time to the village and served for many years on the Wickham Parish Council where he took a special interest in footpaths and planning matters. After retiring from the City Council in 1994 he served as sidesman and twice as Head sidesman in Winchester Cathedral where his services were also much valued.
Brian had so many interests which he shared with Alison. Brian was also involved in the organisation of several local groups. He was Chairman of Swanmore Tennis Club for 7 years; a keen golfer in their local golf club which lies at the bottom of their well-kept garden; he and Alison led the local Scottish Dancing group for 25 years and he loved music, opera and ballet. He was very skilled in embroidery and tapestry design and his own original work can be seen in his dining room where he designed and re-covered the dining chairs and in the many handcrafted handbags carried proudly by Alison and friends.
He was a very keen gardener: their garden is a picture and a visit to his greenhouse is a delight. He was also a passionate beekeeper and, in accordance with ancient lore, his bees had to be told of his death a few weeks ago. His organisation of his life was such that he had already prepared the main details for any obituary and I am very grateful to him for this. He was a humorous man, very strong, very disciplined and always active and we in the local community gained greatly from his energy and expertise. Brian enjoyed so much in life and gave so much back in return. He will be sadly missed by us all here in Wickham. Rest in Peace.
Thérèse Evans
