Brighton and Hove Albion gifts football shirt for lifelong fan’s funeral

A lifelong Brighton and Hove Albion fan who died with COVID-19 at the age of 91 will have a football shirt, gifted by the club, draped over his coffin in lieu of flowers.
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John Braine died at Manor Hall nursing home in Eastbourne after a week of feeling ill due to the coronavirus.

Daughter Valerie Hawkins said: “He had been ill for a week with a high temperature and had the test on the Wednesday. He died on the Saturday afternoon but he never knew he had COVID-19 as tests results came back after he died. I think that is a good thing.

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“There are no flowers, so we emailed the Albion to see if we could borrow a shirt to lay on the coffin. He was an avid supporter, born in Brighton.

John Braine at Edwards and Hope in Worthing, just before his retirement in September 1993John Braine at Edwards and Hope in Worthing, just before his retirement in September 1993
John Braine at Edwards and Hope in Worthing, just before his retirement in September 1993

“They sent a brand new Seagulls shirt for us to put on the coffin. It is really, really nice of them. He will be looking down with a smile on his face.”

The funeral will be at Eastbourne Crematorium today but his ashes will be scattered in the same place as those of his late wife, in the garden at Worthing Crematorium, at a later date.

The family is allowed 10 people at the funeral, so there will be Valerie, her sister Christine Smith, their husbands, and the four granddaughters.

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Mr Braine lived in the same house in Worthing for 57 years, having moved to Congreve Road with his young family.

His wife died three years ago and last year, having had trouble with his eyesight, he moved to Manor Hall nursing home in Eastbourne.

Valerie said: “He lived there for a year and he was very happy. It was a place recommended by my sister, who lives in Eastbourne.

“He had a good life. I spoke to him every evening and told him what was on the telly, as he couldn’t see it.”

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Mr Braine worked at Worthing electrical wholesaler Edwards and Hope for 50 years. He was almost 15 when he joined the firm and retired in September 1993 at the age of 65.

After returning south from Newmarket, where he had been an evacuee, Mr Braine joined the company in Brighton and drove its first van when he was 17.

His career was briefly interrupted by two years’ national service with the Royal Marines, after which he was able to return to the company.

Mr Braine was moved to the Park Road branch in Worthing as manager, until the shop amalgamated with the Tarring Road store the year before he retired.

Mr Braine died aged 91 on Saturday, March 28.

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