The funeral service for Desmond Brittan was held at St. George’s Catholic Church, Boreham Road, Warminster, on Friday 28th June 2024, commencing at 1.00 p.m. Family and friends attended, numbering 40 people.
Des, who resided during the final years of his life at Ruskin Drive, Warminster, passed away on Friday 24th May 2024. He was 75.
The funeral arrangements were able carried out by Iles & Vincent Funeral Services, of Warminster.
The family flowers on the coffin featured the message: “Memories Of A Dear Brother. Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts.”
Charlie McEwan, resplendent in his kilt, piped the coffin in and out of the church, playing Over The Sea To Skye (The Skye Boat Song).
The Parish Priest, Father Martin Queenan officiated. The organist was Kerry Bishop.
There were four hymns: Christ Be With Me; The Lord’s My Shepherd (Psalm 23); Hail, Queen of Heaven, The Ocean Star; and How Great Thou Art (O Lord, My God).
The Bible readings included John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
Des’s brother Malcolm read out the following tribute:
Des, born in 1948 in Dublin, his life changed in 1950 when Dad joined the RAF and we all – Dad, me, Dot and Des – moved with him to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland. Then on to Egypt*, where Pauline was born, and we faced the Suez Crisis and gasped as Dad brought a rifle home every day.
We survived and moved around again and ended in RAF Kinloss, near Forres, in Scotland, with the addition of two more brothers, Ray and Vic.
When 15, Des went to Easingwold Secondary School but he didn’t like it. He threw his books up in the air and hitch-hiked his way to London. His family nickname was ‘The Wanderer’. There he ran a hot dog stand for months and then from there he went via the £5 emigration plan to Australia. Next came the USA where he met and married Dana from Colorado.
Subsequently he came back on his own to London, where he worked at various jobs, including acting and voice-overs for tv adverts, as well as appearing in a couple of films. He had a colourful life in and around London and he made an impression on all those that he met.
The following are some tributes and comments made on Facebook by friends of Des’s from all over the world:
‘His character, his demeanour, his voice will live with me forever. I can imagine him looking down and saying in his deep voice – “Ah, look at you fools,” followed by that deep laugh of his.’
‘Thank you for being brutally honest, not mincing words – you could light up a room wherever you went.’
‘Des was unique, and a great campaigner for truth.’
‘He was brave, principled, and a great friend of Palestine. A phenomenal character and bright light.’
‘Always on point, incisive, determined and widely entertaining.’
‘A lion heart and a blazing spirit who lived life in full colour.’
‘A friend and challenge to many. He will be missed.’
Finally, we have some memories from the family.
This one is from Sharon, Des’s niece:
‘I lived with Des for a summer in London. He was determined to show me all the best Des places. He knew London like the back of his hand. One evening we went to Kenwood House in Hampstead to see a classical music concert. Des declared this was the land of the people and refused to pay. We hiked through the heath, climbed over a fence and found ourselves in the middle of the orchestra having pre-concert drinks. Des shouted out “Two glasses of champagne please.” Life was always adventurous with Uncle Des.’
Next is a memory from Lynne, another niece:
‘Oh my god, when he showed us the sights in London when we were kids. A rather unorthodox tour. We met a few cool homeless dudes – Terry, who lived in the park was one of them. Then we got into Westminster, above all the MPs and Des made us bang stuff and stamp our feet. I remember running out of there. It was hilarious.’
Lastly, a memory from Vic:
When I was about 10 it was my birthday and Des met me from school with a chocolate orange for me. I had never received a present from Des before, so I was delighted. I went home and put it in the fridge, went out to play and came home a few hours later only to find the chocolate orange had gone. Des had eaten it all.’
After the church service, internment took place in the new graveyard extension at Pine Lawns Cemetery, Warminster, followed by a gathering at the Cock Inn, West Street, Warminster. A plaque on the grave reads: ‘Desmond Brittain, Died 24th May 2024, Rest In Peace.’
* On his Facebook page, on 29th February 2024, Des shared a photo of himself stood next to the lion that Tanya Hinton had painted on a boarded-up window of the empty Town Pets store. Accompanying the picture he wrote the caption: “That happy chappy above sailed on the SS Windrush to Egypt around 1950 long before it became the major immigrant ship from the West Indies. So I’m from the pre-Windrush immigrants to the UK.”
