Mr Brian Alfred Wescomb.
RESPECTED Island businessman and well-known character, Brian Alfred Wescomb, has died, aged 82.
Mr Wescomb was born on the Island in 1929, and attended Upper Ryde School. He joined J. Samuel White’s, where he completed an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer and did his National Service in the army.
He married his late wife, Joy, at Binstead Church in 1952, before they moved to Yeovil, where he worked for Westlands. The couple moved to Peterborough in 1959 and Brian worked for Baker Perkins Ltd as their group patents manager for 20 years.
In 1979, Brian, Joy and their youngest child, Susan, returned to the Island and will be best remembered as the couple who enjoyed ten successful years as publicans, transforming The Woodvale, in Gurnard.
With huge enthusiasm and hard work, they created a successful traditional village pub and entered into the spirit of everything. Everyone who enjoyed the Wescombs’ hospitality during those days embraced their loyalty, generosity and friendship until they retired in 1989.
Mr Wescomb kept his hand in by pulling pints on a part-time basis, providing holiday cover for establishments, including the Island Sailing Club and Cowes Golf Club.
After his wife died in 1997, Mr Wescomb continued to support his daughter, Susan, at the Pier View, in Cowes, and could often be heard extolling the virtues of regular pipe cleaning to maintain good beer quality.
In recent years, his health deteriorated and vascular dementia was the cause of his death.
He leaves his sons, David and Christopher, his daughter, Susan, and two granddaughters, Rebecca and Laura.
His funeral service will take place at St Mary’s Church, Cowes, today (Friday) at 11am followed by a private family burial at Ashey Cemetery.
All friends are invited to the Pier View after the church service from noon.
• Family announcements are at http://www.iwcp.co.uk/search/familyannouncements.aspx This week's announcements will be online by 4pm today (Friday)