Recollections of Quorndonians - Marjorie and Peter Brookman

by Doreen Edwards

Brother and sister, Marjorie and Peter Brookman were born at Twickenham before the Great War and have died recently within six months of one another. They were brought to Quorn in 1919 by their parents. Their younger brother and sister, David and Doreen, were born in Quorn.

They lived on the Loughborough Road, the A6, which in those days was little more than a carttrack linking Quorn and Marjorie had attended a convent school in Twickenham where she did not learn much academically but was given an excelIent grounding in needlework which stood her in good stead for the rest of her life. She then attended Loughborough High School which she left at 16.

Peter attended Loughborough Grammar School and left school at 16 to help his father set up his new engineering business, E.S.Brookman Limited. He continued to run the firm after his father's death in 1939 until it closed in another recession. While at school he joined the O.T.C. at a very early age, going to camp at Marlborough every year. Each year, this camp coincided with his younger brother David's birthday and for an annual present Peter dispatched a yellow melon packed in a tin and this was much appreciated by all the family.

In the early 1930's, Marjorie and Peter enjoyed themselves in their spare time with tennis, boating on the river Soar at Barrow and, in Peter's case, skating on it during a particularly bad winter. Later, Peter built his own boat which was christened 'IF' and launched with great ceremony from the old coal wharf on Soar Road. He then graduated to sailing boats, two of which he built himself.

In the war, Peter and Marjorie were both busy with the war effort at the engineering works and at this time Peter helped to found the No.1 (F) Founder Squadron of the Air Training Corps in Leicester which is still flourishing. Marjorie helped in the forces canteen in the village which provided little extras, mainly baked beans, for the various troops who found themselves in and around the village.

Also, with her sister and Marjorie Long, a neighbour, she ran dances in the Church Room on a Tuesday night for the troops and local lads and lasses. Many romances blossomed at these dances helped by tuneful melodies played by the three piece band.

After the war, Peter and Marjorie followed their own interests. Peter with the Air Training Corps, sailing, and various business commitments. He was a lifelong member of the LG. School Old Boys Association and was a member of Loughborough Rotary Club of which he became president and was chairman of Quorn Parish Council for a time. He was a member of Quorn Town Land Charity, Rawlin's Charity and the British Legion. Having moved to a new house in Paddock Close, he designed and set out his own garden and embellished it with various statues and garden furniture fashioned with his own hands from concrete. His garden was his pride and joy and was much admired at 'Open Gardens' time. Marjorie also was a keen gardener and possessed green fingers, she had many plants which seemed loathe to grow in other people's gardens.

Marjorie was twice president of the Soroptomist Club of Loughborough of which she had been a member for many years and was past president and treasurer or the Quorn W.I. having been a keen member for many years. She had also served on the Friends of Roecliffe committee. She was a very skillful needlewoman and produced many beautiful embroidered articles and designed intricate patchwork cushions. She embarked on lace making and tatting quite late in life and did a great deal of tapestry work. She was putting these skills to good use to the end of her long life.

Peter married Dorothy Evans in 1940 and she pre-deceased him. They had two sons, Michael and Tim, and two granddaughters. Marjorie was unmarried.