Man-of-Rye Bryan Booth, who has died aged 86, was a well-known and much-loved character about the town. He lived in the area all of his life, was a councillor in the 1970s, a member of the Artisan Club at Rye Golf Club for 60 years and active in the town’s British Legion.
He also played for the record-breaking Rye Primary School football team which, in 1948, never lost any of its 25 games and won the Hastings schools’ league and cup double.
Bryan Dennis Booth was born in 1938 to Albert and Flora. He was brought up in Military Road with his sister Jean and brother Victor. Bryan went to the town’s primary and secondary schools, leaving at 16 to make pre-stressed concrete for Mears Brothers at Rye Harbour. At 18, he was called up for national service with the RAF. He returned to his job but in 1966 he started his long career in the oil industry, working at first for William Cory at its Cranbrook office. He was still working in the oil business, at Collison Fuels in Hawkhurst, when he was 80.
Bryan married Rosemary Carter at Winchelsea church in 1960 and the couple honeymooned in London, where they watched his beloved Spurs beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. They lived in Tilling Green where they brought up two daughters, Tracey and Lesley.
Bryan and Rosemary separated in 1974 and he married Heather Grand in 1986. They lived in Udimore and had a son Liam who is now a shipbroker at Freight Express in Rye. Bryan had seven grandchildren: Sam, Matt, Vicky, Oli, Becky, Millie and Sienna and four great grandchildren: Ari, Ava, Jude and Louie, with another on the way.
A funeral service was held at Udimore Church where many tributes were paid. His widow Heather said: “I was a very lucky woman to have been married and loved by Bryan for almost 39 years. His death has left me heartbroken, I will always feel the loss.”
His daughters Tracey and Lesley and son Liam said: “Dad loved Rye and Rye loved dad. Dad was never happier than when he was surrounded by family, down on Camber, wearing shorts and a tee shirt, showing off his all-year-round tan and just laughing with everyone. His smile was wide, and his eyes were sparkling on those days, whether he was a boy or in the later years of his life. We feel very blessed to have had the loveliest kindest man to have walked the streets of Rye as our wonderful much loved and cherished dad.”
Close friend Les Castell described Bryan as: “A man of the people … always ready to help and jolly good company. A lovely family man.”
Retired businessman Kevin Fleet said: “Bryan was a wonderful gentleman and a great friend. He was always full of the joys of life and would forever make you smile.”
Bryan was active until his mid-eighties, still travelling, walking his dog, socialising in Rye’s pubs and restaurants and bringing a smile to the faces of friends and family. He will be missed.
Image Credits: Booth family .