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Stan
Brogan 3rd January 1930
- 6th
March 2013 |
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Stan Brogan, founder member of the Kano Society, died on 6th March 2013. The following is a letter written by his son I am writing to let you know that Stan Brogan, my father,
passed away on Wednesday 6th March 2013.
He was 83 year old. Even after retiring from the police in 1990, Stan didn't
slow down much. He was involved
in judo instruction until his 70s, only “retiring” from it on doctor's
orders. He went into business
and did professional self-defence instruction, acted as an expert witness in
litigation, and continued to act as a Swahili interpreter.
Not only that but he became a mediator for the Mid-Surrey Mediation
Service. It was really only in
his very late 70s that he began to reduce his commitments and have more time
to himself.
In 2010, Stan had a sudden (quite literally overnight)
deterioration in his health, and was admitted to East Surrey Hospital.
He was frail and very confused.
He was subjected to a number of tests, but no specific cause was
found. His condition improved,
but unfortunately, he was felt to be at risk if he returned to his home in
Dorking due to both confusion and the risk of falling on the stairs. When told of this, he said that he wanted to move up to
Leeds, where I have lived with my (now) wife Julie since 2003.
He moved into a care home just five minutes away from me.
He was well looked after, but his dementia was slowly progressing.
Sadly in May 2011, he suffered a stroke which robbed him of much of
his speech. He was still able
to talk, but much of it didn't make sense.
This was especially cruel as you may remember Stan loved to chat and
had many anecdotes, stories and jokes (of varying quality!) to tell.
Fortunately, despite this he was happy enough – I feel that the
dementia didn't let him realise how badly he'd deteriorated. On Sunday 3rd March he was taken ill and was
taken to hospital as a precaution.
Unfortunately two nights later, he suffered a serious stroke and his
condition deteriorated. He had
difficulties breathing but seemed otherwise comfortable, and Julie and I
spent most of the night with him.
We only went home at about 6am when we were both exhausted.
On Wednesday, as we were getting ready to return to the hospital, we
received a phone call to say that he had just passed away at about 12:30. Dad's funeral will be held at Rawden Crematorium, Leeds
on Wednesday 27th March at 12:20.
If you would like any further details, please get in touch.
I am aware that many of his friends and colleagues are based in the
south of the country and appreciate that the venue may make it difficult for
them to attend the service.
However, Dad and I had discussed his funeral some time ago, and this was in
accordance with his wishes. Later this year, my wife and I will make a trip up to
Largs, Dad's home town in Scotland.
Along with Dad's ashes, we will take the ashes of Dad's youngest
brother Andy, who passed away about 2½ years ago.
Their mother and father, and a number of their siblings are buried in
two cemeteries there. We will
scatter the ashes of both Stan and Andy on the graves of the rest of their
family. After a life spent in many different places, Stan (and
his brother) will return home. I would like to thank you for the friendship and kindness
that you have shown my Dad over the years.
I know that he was a sociable person and used to tell me all sorts of
stories about what he (and others!) got up to.
But don't worry, your secrets are safe with me!
(Insert knowing wink here!) I have sent this letter to everyone in my father's
(rather substantial) filofax of contacts.
As this hadn't been updated for some time there is a possibility that
the address details may be incorrect.
If this is the case, please accept my apologies, but let me know so
that I can amend my records.
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