It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a valued friend and Haywood Foundation volunteer, Brian Johnson.
Brian was born on 21st September 1938 and died 19th March 2023, aged 84 years.
You may remember seeing Brian in the PIER patient information centre at the Haywood Hospital, where he volunteered for many years. Brian could also be found helping out on the hospital welcome desk with other volunteers from the RVS, signposting visitors to their destinations within the hospital.
In his spare time Brian enjoyed gardening, photography and walking. He was particularly interested in all kinds of wildlife and travelled worldwide on many bird watching holidays. At the age of 80 Brian achieved his lifelong wish, to fly in a Spitfire.
Brian made many friends at the Haywood one of these being Patricia Callaghan, a fellow PIER volunteer, who shared many Thursday afternoons with him.
Here is Patricia’s tribute to Brian
“I met Brian in 2016 when he became my fellow volunteer at the Haywood Hospital. We shared Thursday afternoons in the PIER, volunteering together, helping patients, visitors, and their families. We also enjoyed reading to patients on the Sneyd Ward where I would read poetry and Brian would entertain with the limericks he had composed. He always denied being a poet but the words below are his own.”
Peaks and Dales
The peaks and dales
And rugged trails
Will soon bring dreams
Of rippling streams
The bleak of winter
Will start to dim
At the coming of the Spring
The hopes and dreams
Of better times
Will hopefully
Inspire my Rhymes
Brian was a kind and caring person who liked to help everyone, and we will miss him but remember him with fondness.
June Brammar
PEIR Manager
