Tributes paid to Boys’ Brigade leader who has died aged 78
ISLANDERS are remembering Boys’ Brigade Battalion Secretary Bryan Brehaut, who died at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital last week, aged 78.
His 55 years of dedication to the Boys’ Brigade earned him a place on the 2020 New Year’s Honours list and a British Empire Medal.
The medal was awarded to him for his outstanding commitment to community work and was presented to him at Government House by Lt-Governor Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder in 2020.
Mr Brehaut joined the brigade as a seven-year-old in 1950 and worked his way up through the ranks, becoming an inspirational youth leader.
In 1964 he and his wife Jean were asked to temporarily take over as leaders of the junior section.
His wife stepped down when they began their family, eventually having three daughters, but Mr Brehaut remained there for a further five decades.
During that time Mr Brehaut earned a large collection of badges, including The Queen’s Badge, which is the highest award a member of the Boys’ Brigade can gain, and became a grandfather of six.
Guernsey Boys’ Brigade Captain Steve England said he was a dedicated man who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.
‘Bryan was a good Christian man, efficient, and diplomatic – he had an opinion and it always seemed to be correct,’ he said.
‘As secretary he was very good at minute-taking and was able to assess a conversation and summarise what everyone else had been trying to say all along.’
Mr England added that throughout his years serving the Boys’ Brigade, Mr Brehaut clearly had a profound impact on the hundreds of boys who he supported, tracked and encouraged to progress and succeed in life.
Guernsey Boys’ Brigade president Sir Richard Collas said Mr Brehaut’s unerring loyalty to the organisation was commendable.
‘His inspired leadership and his commitment has ensured that the Boys’ Brigade has thrived in Guernsey and continues to do so today,’ he said.
‘Bryan was a modest man who never sought praise because he thoroughly enjoyed what he did for the Boys’ Brigade and knowing that the boys he worked with would benefit in life from the values and qualities they learned from engaging in its activities.’
Horace Camp tribute
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n Mr Brehaut’s life achievements will be celebrated by friends and family on Tuesday at St Sampson’s Parish Church from 2pm.
Donations in his memory can be sent to 2nd Guernsey Company, The Boys’ Brigade, Steve England, Lucana, Glebe Close, Neuve Rue, St Peter Port, GY1 1SE or by BACS payment to Lloyds Bank, 30-93-73, account no. 00318532
