HERBERT BEDDOME BRITTON

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HERBERT BEDDOME BRITTON December 10, 1918 - September 23, 2016 It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Herbert Britton. He died on September 23, 2016 at Tuxedo Villa Care Home. He was 97. Herb was born in Headingley in 1918, the sixth of seven children of Charles Britton and Flora Ann Taylor. He was predeceased by brothers John, Spencer and Frank; and by sisters Alice, Vera and Marguerite. Herb grew up in the lean years of the Great Depression and left school at 15 to work as a farm labourer. When the Second World War came his biggest fear was that he would not be accepted into the army. However, he was. Herb served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment for nearly six years, fighting in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. It was while stationed in England that Herb met his future wife: Peggy Patricia Jennings. They were married in Bromley, Kent in June 1945. After the war, Herb returned to the family house in Headingley where he was born. Pat joined him a few months later and together they embarked on a life that was happy, full and long. Throughout their lives they focused on family, friends and community. They were married for 68 years when Pat died in 2013. Herb joined Trans Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) in 1949 and he was with the airline for 30 years. After retirement Herb worked as a carpenter/handyman and kept busy with the Headingley Historical Society, the Over-55 Club and numerous local projects throughout the years. Herb was always very active: he played hockey in his younger days, curled for many years, and was Pat's "chief contractor" in creating their beautiful, serene home on the banks of the Assiniboine River. Herb and Pat traveled the world in a spirit of curious adventure, trekking as far away as Kenya, Australia and the USSR. One of his favourite destinations was the Barbados where he and Pat returned numerous times to enjoy the music and dancing, the sun and the rum. In the 1980s Herb wrote regularly for the The Headingley Headliner, the local newspaper. His popular column, later collected into two books, was called Day's Gone By and it consisted of Herb's description of life in the small prairie town of Headingley during the 1920s and 1930s. Herb also wrote a war-time memoir titled The Thunder of the Guns. Throughout his life Herb was able to connect with others. He had an infectious sense of fun: he loved people, parties and laughter. He was an excellent dancer, a conversationalist and story teller who could set up a scene with a few deft words. His deep sense of optimism, and his affability and wit won him many life long friends and always made him a joy to be around. Herb spent the last three years of his life at the Sturgeon Creek Retirement Residence. He thoroughly enjoyed his life at Sturgeon, where he continued to make new friends and appreciated the stream of activities and events that filled his days. Herb will be profoundly missed by his son Stephen (Betty Ann), daughter Susan, son Matthew (Michele); and grandchildren Paul, Eliot, Daniel, Rebecca, Spencer, Timothy, Jonathan and Julia. The family would like to extend their thanks to all the staff at the Sturgeon Creek Retirement Residence for the good years Herb spent with them. They also wish to thank the doctors, nurses and aides at the Grace Hospital and Tuxedo Villa for the compassionate care they provided Herb in recent weeks. A celebration of Herb's life will be celebrated on Monday, October 3 at 2:00 p.m. at The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 5335 Portage Avenue, Headingley, MB.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 01, 2016