A tribute to Rev. Ian Brown

By Alison Davis, National Coordinator, No less Human

Ian and Esther Brown

I first came to know Ian Brown in 1984. He and his wife Esther were then living in London with their three boys, and they joined the SPUC Handicap Division as their eldest son, Daniel, had Down's syndrome. Ian was a minister in the Nazarene church, and was full of energy and enthusiasm. He was also excellent at getting other clergymen interested in SPUC's work.

In 1985, when I experienced some very difficult personal problems, Ian, who had by then moved to Bolton in Lancashire, invited me to come and stay with him, Esther and Daniel, Mark and Samuel for a holiday. It was a precious time, and the whole family made me feel very welcome. There was always a feeling of such joy in the family, and we had a lot of fun together. I particularly remember playing snap with them all. Daniel would throw down his cards when there was any danger of someone losing, and, being unable to speak, would sign "we've all won" because he didn't want anyone to be disappointed at losing. That generosity of spirit was typical of the whole family.

Ian later decided to start training to be an Anglican vicar. As part of his training he was encouraged to do voluntary work, and he joined me in working for what was then the SPUC Handicap Division (now renamed No Less Human) in 1988. He intended to work with me for one year, but in fact stayed on until 1991, when Janet Thomas took over his role.

During the time that we were colleagues Ian and I worked closely together, and Ian organised several events including speakers' training courses and pro-life disability weeks. His energy and enthusiasm were always infectious, and he did wonderful work. Those of us who took part in the pro-life disability week in Liverpool in 1991 will never forget laughing until we cried when Ian related during a meal with the participants that he had once stuttered over the word "exterminated" when describing the plight of disabled babies. One of our members, Anne Dowson, responded that he wouldn't make a very good dalek!

Sadly, Ian's son Daniel died in 1994, and is much missed by all who knew and loved him. Ian and Esther were supported by their deep Christian faith, but Daniel's loss must have been so very hard for them both.

In more recent years Ian and Esther moved to Dorset, relatively near to where I live, and it was lovely to be able to spend more time with them both. In the last two years Ian faced oesophageal cancer, and typically responded in an exemplary way to his terminal diagnosis. He died on 20^th November 2005.

Ian called his son Daniel "a gentle prophet" for the pro-life movement. That is a fitting epitaph for Ian too.