Snippet: John Fairbrother

Snippet: John Fairbrother 1930 – 2019

We are indebted to John Thorne who has reported that John Fairbrother, of Ipswich, has recently died. He had just celebrated his 89th birthday. It was John’s family who had the vision to provide the Helmdon Reading Room, and financed its construction, and he regularly asked for updates as to its use. His ashes will be buried to join several other members of his family in Helmdon churchyard sometime in 2020, including those of his elder brother, Charles “Grockle” Fairbrother. John had no children of his own. Charles has three boys.

The village will be eternally grateful for the provision of the Reading Room in 1887, which is the hub of village activities. There is a memorial inscription to Charles Fairbrother 1842 – 1932 on the front of the Reading Room.

The following articles and press cuttings may be of interest.

History of the Reading Room 100 years old

Helmdon’s Reading Room

Press cutting

Press cutting

Press cutting

The Reading Room, Helmdon.