I have just heard, and with much sadness, that CPO(Y) Brian (Jan) Bewsher crossed the bar at home on Tuesday 10th September 2013 aged 66 and after a long illness. Jan’s funeral will be held at Exeter Crematorium (HERE for website and HERE for map) on Tuesday 24th Sept 2013 at 1400, and afterwards at the BuckerellLodgeHotel, Topsham Road Exeter, Devon EX2 4SQ, where former shipmates and colleagues who attend the funeral will be very welcome to attend. (Map)
Family flowers only but donations, if desired, should be made to the Rowcroft Hospice (HEREfor their website and HERE for a map).
Arrangements are being made by Coombes and Son, Funeral Directors, Bovey Tracey (HERE for their website and HERE for a map).
On behalf of the RFA Association I extend our sincere condolences to his wife Lorraine and all his family.
If you have a remebrance of Jan please email it to be at deputy.chairman@rfaa.uk and I will post them on this page. Also If you have a photograph of Jan I would appreciate a copy for this page. Please email it to me at the above email address.
Pat Thompson writes:- Jan was a signalman with me in Grey Rover, my first RFA back in 1971 when I was a newboy to the RFA. We were operating as the FOST Tanker out of Portland and Jan looked after me as I attempted to master the wonderful world of fleetwork. He was a great asset to the RFA in general and me in particular. RIP old shipmate.
CPO(D) Mick Caley writes :-
I saw Brian recently when I took him to Jan Brewers funeral in Plymouth. It was a great effort for him to make that journey but he was determined to pay his respects to a fellow seafarer. That particular day he was in great pain and I admired him for what he did. After we left Plymouth we stopped for lunch and then continued to Brian’s home via the moor. We made numerous stops but Brian couldn’t get out of the car but he enjoyed the trip non the less and for me it brought back memories of my Marine training many years ago. I again saw Brian 29th August and he was slightly better that day and we again had lunch out and caught up on the lost years. Unfortunately two days after that he took to bed and and never really recovered. I sailed with Brian on three separate occasions and he was a delightful character to be with. We both shared a great interest in birds and although our first trip together was in 82’ aboard the Fort Grange we had no time to get ashore and appreciate the wild life, however in 85’ we both joined the Regent and that was a trip to remember with many walks ashore in the Falklands and South Georgia. Plus a night spent ashore under canvas on Fanning Island. Our next trip together was on Resource and it was spent mainly in Scotland being shunted around from Rosyth to the Glen or Loch Striven and we did some serious walking together. It’s at times like that we really get to know each other and we discussed all the subjects under the sun if I remember correctly. Brian was a fantastic companion and so knowledgeable on all subjects regards birds, fauna and nature. (When I last visited him he’d had the moth trap out the previous night and together with Lorraine they had built up quite collection of the various visitors to their garden). Brian was like I said a wonderful companion but also a great friend and confidant and he will be truly missed by Lorraine and, his family and friends and his many companions.
