Many of you will know and remember David, who was born in and lived in Brightling all his life.
When Freddie and I moved to Dallington in 1988, we met David through Brightling and Asburnham Cricket Clubs when Freddie joined.
He became a good friend and would often pop in for a coffee and a chat – I typed up his “Brightling Birds” section for the Messenger for many years.
He was the centre of village life for most of his life and served as Chair of the Brightling Parish Council, he was also a Churchwarden and Member of Brightling PCC for many years.
He was a Trustee of the Brightling Village Trust and took over the running of all the other village charities.
A keen bellringer from childhood and Captain of the Bells from 1999.
He played for Brightling Park Cricket Club from his youth, regularly topping the batting and bowling averages as well as maintaining the cricket ground.
David was the driving force behind Brightling’s annual village litter clean-up and the carol singers at Christmas.
He will be much missed and Freddie and I have lost a good friend.
I knew David for most of my life. I first met him at Primary school when my school played stoolball against his. I didn’t know his name then but he stood out as a decent player. On to Senior school and we were being sorted into Houses and he came up to me and said he recognised me! The start of a long friendship as we were in the same stream and then played cricket together at Brightling. The Fullers Arms was the wateringhole for the club. We both played stoolball for Brightling with some success.
Regrettably I won’t be able to be at David’s funeral as we are flying home that day. My daughter will represent the family.