A man who threw himself a ‘fake wake,’ so that he could be there to enjoy it, has died less than two weeks later.
Retired Helston accountant Ken Brown had decided that he wanted to reminisce with friends and family rather than them only gathering in his absence, which led to him holding an event at his home on November 16.
What no one could have predicted, however, was that sadly they would soon be doing it again, for real, following his death on Thursday this week.
For while Ken had been diagnosed with cancer 28 years ago, he had been looking forward to Christmas, the birth of his second great-grandchild and finding out the result of the General Election.
Son David said that while his father appeared “certainly intuitive” he did not believe he had any premonition.
“He enjoyed his friends around him and enjoyed socialising. He obviously appreciated he may not have a huge amount of time in front of him, but I don’t think he anticipated going just yet,” he said.
Ken, aged 90, had led a full life involved in the Helston community.
Not only was he a founding member of Kitchen & Brown accountancy firm in Coinagehall Street, he was a long-standing member of Helston Rotary Club and a steward with Helston Flora Day Association for 45 years.
Ken Brown (left) with son David, as a steward on Flora Day. Photo: Helston Flora Day Association
He was also one of the founder members of Helston Round Table and chairman of Helston Chamber of Commerce for a time.
One of Ken’s great passions in life was sailing and he could often be found in the water around Falmouth and Helford, as well as racing boats, including offshore.
He was able to enjoy 30 years of retirement, during which he took up cruising.
Ken loved sailing
Ken passed on his love of the water to his sons and they spent many hours on the water together.
“We spent our childhood on boats,” said Ken’s other son, Richard.
“One of the reasons he put a lot of effort in to spending time with his children was because he lost his father at a young age.”
Ken was just 13 when a ship his father was serving on in the navy was torpedoed.
Ken was married to wife Tessa for more than 60 years and they have three children, David, Richard and Julia, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild, with a second due to be born any day.
His funeral is due to be held on Wednesday, December 11 at St Michael’s Church at 12 noon and is open to all.
Ken in the RAF
Before moving to Helston, Ken was a pilot officer in the RAF through National Service and served for a while in Germany after the Second World War.
He came to Helston in 1953, on a wet February day, and soon settled in to community life.
Among the organisations paying tribute to Ken has been Helston Flora Day Association.
John Eddy, chairman of Flora Day stewards said: “Ken became a Flora Day steward in 1974 and will be greatly missed by all who knew him, not only for his sound advice and common sense he brought to our meetings but also for his wit and good humour.
"He loved Flora Day and was proud to be a steward of the Ancient Furry Dance."
Read more: Cornwall accountant throws own 'fake wake' while still alive
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