A Celebration for the Life 
Of

Margaret  Jean  Brown
‘Peggy'

24th April 1930 - 10th September 2022


Gloucester Crematorium
Friday 21st October 2022


Officiated by
John Knowles - Celebrant



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THE LAST CALL

THE CURTAIN HAS COME DOWN
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME;
BUT AS THE SHOW MUST GO ON WE STAGE UNREHEARSED LINES;
SO PLEASE BEAR WITH US, DEAR AUDIENCE, AND ACT YOUR PART AS WELL;
WE SALUTE A THESPIAN TITAN
WHO HAD SUCH A GOOD LIFE TO TELL.

Michael Ashby


[ Opening Music ]


Welcome

GOOD AFTERNOON AND ON BEHALF OF PHILIP AND DAVID WELCOME TO THIS CHAPEL OF REST AS WE COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF MARGARET JEAN BROWN, KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY TO SOME AS 'PEGGY' OR PERHAPS EVEN “MUMMY BROWN”.  
I FEEL THAT TODAY I AM AMONG FRIENDS AS WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE MARGARET'S LONG LIFE OF 92 YEARS.  FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS JOHN KNOWLES, A FUNERAL CELEBRANT AND HAVING KNOWN MARGARET FIRSTLY THROUGH AMATEUR DRAMATICS AND THEN AS PART OF THE CHURCH FAMILY AT HOLY TRINITY IT IS A REAL PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAD THIS TIME OF REMEMBRANCE.
MARGARET WAS BELOVED WIFE OF THE LATE MICHAEL, LOVING MUM OF PHILIP & DAVID, DEAR MOTHER-IN-LAW OF CELIA & JENNY AND MUCH-LOVED GRANDMA & GREAT GRANDMA OF BEN, RACHAEL, JAMES, JOE, CESC & ELIA.
THROUGH OUR LIVES WE EACH HAVE A PART TO PLAY ON THE WORLD'S STAGE.
HAVING PLAYED IN ONE SCENE OR ANOTHER IN MARGARET'S LIFE, NATURALLY THERE WILL BE SADNESS TODAY, BECAUSE MARGARET HAS IN SOME WAY TOUCHED AND INFLUENCED OUR LIVES AND HER PASSING LEAVES A BIG GAP AND LIFE JUST WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT HER.
IN OUR TIME TOGETHER THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO REMEMBER MARGARET IN YOUR OWN WAYS BUT QUITE SIMPLY WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND CONTRIBUTION TO IT!
SHOULD YOU WISH TO MAKE A DONATION IN PEGGY'S MEMORY YOU MAY DO SO AS YOU LEAVE THE CHAPEL AND THESE WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CHAT OUTSIDE FOR A SHORT TIME.
LET US BEGIN IN PRAYER ……

Opening Prayer

GOD OF MERCY,
YOU HAVE MADE US IN YOUR IMAGE TO REFLECT YOUR TRUTH AND LIGHT.
WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE LIFE OF MARGARET,
FOR THE GRACE AND MERCY SHE RECEIVED FROM YOU,
FOR ALL THAT WAS GOOD IN HER LIFE 
AND FOR THE MEMORIES WE SHARE TODAY.
YOU PROMISED ETERNAL LIFE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND WE TRUST THAT
MARGARET IS NOW REUNITED WITH HER LOVED ONES GONE BEFORE.
LOOK IN MERCY ON ALL THOSE WHO MOURN;
GIVE THEM PATIENT FAITH IN TIMES OF DARKNESS;
HEAL THE MEMORIES OF HURT AND FAILURE
AND GIVE US THE WISDOM AND GRACE TO USE ARIGHT
THE TIME LEFT FOR US HERE ON EARTH.
GOD OF MERCY,
ENTRUSTING INTO YOUR HANDS ALL THAT YOU HAVE MADE 
AND REJOICING WITH ALL YOUR FAITHFUL PEOPLE,
WE MAKE OUR PRAYERS.
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
AMEN


[ Reading ]


[ Hymn ]


Life of An Actress

GEORGE V WAS KING, JOHN GIELGUD WAS PLAYING HAMLET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE OLD VIC, GERTRUDE LAWRENCE & LAURENCE OLIVIER WERE STARRING IN THE FIRST PERFORMANCES OF “PRIVATE LIVES”, NOEL COWERD'S SONG “SOMEDAY I'LL FIND YOU” WAS PROVING MOST POPULAR AND IN STOCKWELL, IN THE COUNTY OF LONDON ON THURSDAY 24TH 1930, A DAY AFTER SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY, BABY MARGARET JEAN POWELL WAS BORN TO PARENTS ARTHUR & ELLEN.  
'PEGGY', AS SHE WAS SOMETIMES KNOWN, WAS AN ONLY CHILD THOUGH SHE HAD A READY-MADE BROTHER IN ALEC WHOSE MOTHER HAD DIED IN CHILDBIRTH AND WAS BEING CARED FOR BY MARGARET'S MOTHER.  SADLY, ALEC DIED SOME YEARS AGO.
DURING THE WAR SHE, LIKE MANY YOUNGSTERS, WAS EVACUATED TO DEVON.
MARGARET ATTENDED WIMBLEDON HIGH SCHOOL AND AS SHE WROTE IN HER LIFE STORY “I DID ALL THE USUAL THINGS SUCH AS GIRL GUIDES AND YOUTH CLUB. THROUGH THE GUIDES I LANDED UP A LEADER OF THE LOCAL RANGERS AND WAS ASKED TO BE A MEMBER OF A GUARD OF HONOUR TEAM”.
SHE LEFT TO WORK AT, WOULD YOU BELIEVE, A FUNERAL DIRECTORS.  MARGARET WROTE: “MY PARENTS GAVE A HOME TO A RETURNING SOLDIER AND WHEN HE GOT MARRIED, I MET MICHAEL AT HIS WEDDING RECEPTION”.
“OUR FIRST DATE - AFTERNOON TEA AT THE WALDORF HOTEL FOLLOWED BY THEATRE.  MARRIAGE CAME IN DUE COURSE AND MY LOVELY SONS PHILIP AND DAVID WERE BORN.  A BOMBSHELL WAS DROPPED DUE TO MICHAEL'S OFFICE BEING RELOCATED TO GLOUCESTER.  THIS MEANT LEAVING A PROMINENT DRAMA COMPANY AND A WELL-KNOWN LADIES COMPANY SPECIALISING IN FESTIVALS AND COMPETITIONS.  WE MOVED TO CHELTENHAM ROAD, LONGLEVENS ON GUY FAWKES DAY 1971”.
“WE PICKED UP LIFE AGAIN AND I JOINED THE L.A.D.S. (LADIES AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY) WHERE I HAVE MADE LIFELONG FRIENDS.”  
THIS IS WHERE I FIRST MET MARGARET, MY MUM BEING A MEMBER TOO. 
“SADLY, MICHAEL DIED ON ARMISTICE DAY 2002 AND ANOTHER PHASE OF MY LIFE BEGAN -  ALONE!”
“I HAD TO GIVE UP MY CAR BUT WITH THE HELP OF PHILIP I GET OUT AS MUCH AS I AM ABLE ESPECIALLY TO HOLY TRINITY CHURCH LONGLEVENS WHERE I HAVE WORSHIPPED SINCE 1971 AND WHERE THE MOTHER'S UNION PLAYED A LARGE PART IN MY LIFE.  I WAS PRESIDING MEMBER FOLLOWED BY DEANERY PRESIDENT MAKING EVEN MORE FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY”.
IT WAS AT HOLY TRINITY THAT MARGARET FORMED A FRIENDSHIP WITH THE CURATE TONY BRADLEY AND HIS AUSTRALIAN WIFE CHRIS.  NOT ONLY AT CHURCH BUT, ALSO THROUGH THE LOVE OF BOWLS.
PHILIP GOES ON TO FINISH HER STORY …
“IN SPITE OF INCREASING FRAILTY MARGARET WAS PUSHED IN HER WHEELCHAIR BEYOND THE HOUSE.  SUNDAYS SHE WAS STILL ABLE TO RECEIVE COMMUNION AT HOLY TRINITY, THURSDAYS TO BOHANAM HOUSE, FRIDAY SHOPPING AT SAINSBURY'S, FORTNIGHTLY LIBRARY VISITS, ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY LUNCHES, CROSSROADS CARE AND FREQUENT OTHER VISITS, STILL MAINTAINING AN INDEPENDENT LIFE. 
IN 2019 EARLY SIGNS OF DEMENTIA WERE EVIDENT AND WITH THE ADVENT OF CORONA SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO COPE WITH ENFORCED ISOLATION.  SHE MOVED INTO THE CARE OF CHAPEL HOUSE AND SADLY NEVER RETURNED TO HER OWN HOME”. 
SHE TOLD PHILIP THAT LIFE AT CHAPEL HOUSE WAS NEVER A GOOD OR HAPPY ONE;  YET, TO OTHERS SHE TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY ALTOGETHER! 
SHE WAS ABLE TO ENJOY A FEW LOVELY TRIPS OUT INCLUDING AFTERNOON TEA AT TWIGWORTH AND IN THE GARDEN AT NO. 7 WITH CELIA & PHILIP.
MARGARET DESCRIBED IN HER STORY THAT 1988 WAS A BIT OF A GOLDEN YEAR. SHE WAS AWARDED 'BEST ACTRESS' BY THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE DRAMA ASSOCIATION FOR HER ROLE IN “BORN IN THE GARDENS”.  
THAT YEAR SHE ALSO WON A COUNTY BOWLING AWARD.  
OTHER ROLES SHE PLAYED SO BRILLIANTLY INCLUDED JUDITH BLISS IN “HAY FEVER” WHERE THE REVIEW IN THE PAPER SAID:
“SHE MANAGED HER PART WITH ABILITY.  SHE WAS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE CAST REALLY TO ENTER INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE PERIOD.  HER OVERACTING WHICH WAS A NECESSARY PART OF THE ROLE, WAS DONE WELL AND CONSISTENTLY”.  
IN A PRODUCTION WITH L.A.D.S. THAT 'TOURED' LOCAL CHURCHES THE ADJUDICATOR FOR THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE DRAMA FESTIVAL WROTE OF HER PORTRAYAL OF THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA:  “GOOD BUT I DIDN'T FEEL SHE'D EVER BEEN A TART”!
IN THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S INSTITUTES 1982 DRAMA FESTIVAL MARGARET, TOGETHER WITH THE LATE SHEILA HANMAN, WON A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE OF “A DAY IN THE COUNTRY” AND FIRST PLACE FOR A DUOLOGUE.  
IN ST. BARNABAS PLAYERS’ PRODUCTION OF “THE LION IN WINTER” IN 1990 SHE PLAYED THE ROLE OF QUEEN ELEANOR OPPOSITE THE LATE RAY DAVIS (A ROLE HE PLAYED FOR THE SECOND TIME) AND THE ADJUDICATOR WROTE OF THIS:  
“AN EXCELLENT AND OFTEN MOVING PERFORMANCE.  A TIGHTROPE BETWEEN THE SINGLE-LINE, DEEPLY IRONIC AND THE TRULY POETIC DEPTH OF TRAGEDY.  THE AMBIGUITY OF THE CHARACTER ENTIRELY JUSTIFIED.  WELL-PACED AND RISING TO AN ABSORBING CLIMAX.  REMINDED ME OF JUDI DENCH, THAN WHICH, I CAN SAY NO BETTER!”
SHE PLAYED A QUEEN AND JUST TWO DAYS AFTER OUR OWN QUEEN LEFT THIS WORLD, SO MARGARET SUCCUMBED ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2022. 
A NEW ERA, A NEW CAROLEAN AGE UNDER KING CHARLES III, WHEN FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SUNG HER TO HER REST.

[ Some personal words from her son David ]

Interval

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AFTER I HAD PLAYED SOMETHING FROM “LES MISERABLES” ON THE ORGAN AT HOLY TRINITY, MARGARET NEVER FAILED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.  IT WAS, OF COURSE, ONE OF HER FAVOURITE MUSICALS.
IN SUCH A GATHERING AS THIS, WE ARE AWARE THAT WE ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND FAITHS SO, LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO PICTURE MARGARET AS YOU REMEMBER HER BEST AS WE ASK:


GOD ON HIGH, HEAR OUR PRAYER;
IN OUR NEED, YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
THE SUMMERS DIE, ONE BY ONE; 
HOW SOON THEY FLY, ON AND ON,
AND WE ARE OLD AND WILL BE GONE.

[ Reflective Music ]

THE LORD'S PRAYER

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME,  THY WILL BE DONE,  ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US.
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS.
NOW AND FOREVER.  
AMEN.


Celtic Commital

SHAKESPEARE WROTE IN KING LEAR: 
“I HAVE A JOURNEY SHORTLY TO GO.  MY MASTER CALLS ME, I MUST NOT SAY NO". 
WE HAVE COME TO THE MOMENT WHERE WE MUST SEND MARGARET ON HER FINAL JOURNEY AS WE TAKE OUR LEAVE OF HER EARTHLY PRESENCE AND COMMIT HER BODY TO BE CREMATED IN THIS FINAL ACT TO SAY  "GOODBYE".
MARGARET JEAN BROWN, KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE MOURNED AND MISSED AND THAT NO-ONE CAN REPLACE YOU;  THAT YOU HAVE LOVED AND ARE BELOVED AND WE GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR LIFE.
PEGGY, GO FORTH UPON YOUR FINAL JOURNEY AND, WITH THE SETTING OF THE SUN, CLIMB AND REACH THE TOP OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS WHERE THE WINDS ARE COOL AND THE SIGHT IS GLORIOUS. 
INTO THE FREEDOM OF WIND AND SUNSHINE, WE LET YOU GO;
INTO THE MUSIC OF THE STARS AND PLANETS, WE LET YOU GO;
INTO THE WIND'S BREATH AND THE HANDS OF THE STAR-MAKER, WE LET YOU GO;
WE LOVE YOU, WE MISS YOU, WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.
GO SAFELY,  GO FREE,  GO HOME.



[ Nunc Dimittis ]



OUR TIME TOGETHER IS ALMOST OVER AND THIS AFTERNOON WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAY GOODBYE IN A PERSONAL WAY TO OUR LOVED ONE, MARGARET JEAN BROWN - PEGGY - AND, IN SO DOING, EXPRESS INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS, GIVE COMFORT TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO HER FAMILY WHO IN RETURN THANK YOU FOR COMING AND FOR THE MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE RECEIVED.   IT IS A GREAT COMFORT.
MARGARET LEAVES MANY A 'MEMORY' TO TREASURE SO CARRY ON TALKING ABOUT PEGGY BECAUSE SHE HAS NOW LEFT THE WORLD'S STAGE TO PLAY ON ANOTHER GREAT STAGE.   SHE IS FREE FROM HER TROUBLES AND, LIKE A BIRD FLOWN FROM ITS CAGE, IS FREE, SAFE, AND NOW AT PEACE. 
WE HOWEVER MUST OF COURSE GO BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD, SO PLEASE SUPPORT AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, OURSELVES GOING IN PEACE. 
MAY I WISH YOU A SAFE ONWARD JOURNEY AND MAY YOUR GOD GO WITH YOU!


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OUR REVELS NOW OUR ENDED.  THESE OUR ACTORS, AS I FORETOLD YOU, WERE ALL SPIRITS AND ARE MELTED INTO AIR, INTO THIN AIR.
AND, LIKE THE BASELESS FABRIC OF THIS VISION, THE CLOUD-CLAPP'D TOWERS, THE GORGEOUS PALACES, THE SOLEMN TEMPLES, THE GREAT GLOBE ITSELF, YES, ALL WHICH IT INHERIT, SHALL DISSOLVE AND, LIKE THIS INSUBSTANTIAL PAGEANT FADED, LEAVE NOT A RACK BEHIND. 
WE ARE SUCH STUFF AS DREAM ARE MADE ON AND OUR LITTLE LIFE IS ROUNDED WITH A SLEEP.



[ The Final Curtain ]



IN THE 'THEATRE OF DREAMS' 
THE LIGHTS HAVE DIMMED
THE CURTAIN ABOUT TO CLOSE

IT'S THE END OF THE SHOW
SADLY, IT HAPPENED YOU KNOW
LIFE JUST EBBS AND FLOWS

THE CAST IN MY LIFE
WERE MY CHILDREN, MY MICHAEL 
NOW ONLY MEMORIES FILL MY HEAD

I HAVE LIVED ALL MY DREAMS
NOW IT'S THE END OF THE SCENE 
MY SCRIPT HAS FINALLY BEEN READ.

John Read

[ Closing Music ]