JOHN BRACHER
 DOB 11TH April 1935 - Croydon
 Parents - George & Ruby Bracher  Siblings - Lita & Julia  Sons - Alex & Ben
 Grandchildren - Ryan & Elsie  He grew up in Mint Walk Croydon which now the site of Croydon council 
headquarters
 Lived through the blitz in Croydon
 School – St Marys – West Croydon
 He enjoyed drawing pictures with lead pencils and ink and was very good, his 
level for detail surpassed in his teenage years when Punch the magazine 
nearly published some of his work.  As a child he had a little friend of the canine vartiy which he loved dearly 
called Bonso where he spend many a time running and playing in local fields 
nearby, in Central Croydon – yes ……….. in Central Croydon
 On leaving school in April 1950 he started an apprenticeship at Bowmaker Ltd 
as an office boy where they described him as very willing & cheerful member 
of staff and his work was always accurate and he displayed great intelligence 
and interest and they were extremely sorry to see him leave for National 
service.  in 1953 he was drafted into National Service Royal army service core which 
he thoroughly looked forward to and where he learnt some “colourful 
language” and often referred it to Anglo-Saxon, and used to remind us boys 
whatever language we hear, we should be safe in the knowledge that he has 
heard it all before!  After his service he then joined Butler Jones and then went on to a job as a 
“Progress Chaser” for Fowler Name Plates in Sydenham where he soon tried 
his hand with sketching and art within the industry (but within his own time you 
understand)  On the 25 March 1962 he married Angela with many happy years and they 
successfully adopted Alexander and Benjamin within the parish of 
Sanderstead.  He was later faced with an opportunity where his sister Julia invited him to 
work alongside her and manage a successful wallpaper / decorators shop in 
Thornton Heath, Brigstock Road as a family business – as kids we would go 
along to help at the shop on a Saturday morning as business had to be 
caught up due to the shop having to be closed on Wednesday afternoon 
(those were the days) and the shop soon branched out / moved to Selsdon 
High Street where he then was to move onto pastures new.  He then worked in Bromley within in admin role for several years, but he was 
happy to know he would soon be working with his sister Julia again at 
Warlingham High School as a Laboratory Technician where he stayed until he JOHN BRACHER
 DOB 11TH April 1935 - Croydon
 Parents - George & Ruby Bracher  Siblings - Lita & Julia  Sons - Alex & Ben
 Grandchildren - Ryan & Elsie  He grew up in Mint Walk Croydon which now the site of Croydon council 
headquarters
 Lived through the blitz in Croydon
 School – St Marys – West Croydon
 He enjoyed drawing pictures with lead pencils and ink and was very good, his 
level for detail surpassed in his teenage years when Punch the magazine 
nearly published some of his work.  As a child he had a little friend of the canine vartiy which he loved dearly 
called Bonso where he spend many a time running and playing in local fields 
nearby, in Central Croydon – yes ……….. in Central Croydon
 On leaving school in April 1950 he started an apprenticeship at Bowmaker Ltd 
as an office boy where they described him as very willing & cheerful member 
of staff and his work was always accurate and he displayed great intelligence 
and interest and they were extremely sorry to see him leave for National 
service.  in 1953 he was drafted into National Service Royal army service core which 
he thoroughly looked forward to and where he learnt some “colourful 
language” and often referred it to Anglo-Saxon, and used to remind us boys 
whatever language we hear, we should be safe in the knowledge that he has 
heard it all before!  After his service he then joined Butler Jones and then went on to a job as a 
“Progress Chaser” for Fowler Name Plates in Sydenham where he soon tried 
his hand with sketching and art within the industry (but within his own time you 
understand)  On the 25 March 1962 he married Angela with many happy years and they 
successfully adopted Alexander and Benjamin within the parish of 
Sanderstead.  He was later faced with an opportunity where his sister Julia invited him to 
work alongside her and manage a successful wallpaper / decorators shop in 
Thornton Heath, Brigstock Road as a family business – as kids we would go 
along to help at the shop on a Saturday morning as business had to be 
caught up due to the shop having to be closed on Wednesday afternoon 
(those were the days) and the shop soon branched out / moved to Selsdon 
High Street where he then was to move onto pastures new.  He then worked in Bromley within in admin role for several years, but he was 
happy to know he would soon be working with his sister Julia again at 
Warlingham High School as a Laboratory Technician where he stayed until he retired at 77 years old. He remained good friends with colleagues there who 
he often spoke highly of.  One of his favourite jokes was on Sunday afternoon around the dining table 
(often used as a table tennis table by us boys) which was to be his ongoing 
joke and much to mum’s displeasure was to complement her cooking, stating 
“this is Devine” then encouraging mum to repeat. He would then state (much 
to his own amusement) “no, no Dis is De Dinner………and Dis is De Vine”… 
mums face being a picture with eyes rolling and a little smile.  The boys went off the radar for a few years, too busy growing up and partying 
but often took solace with taking the family dogs for walks, Buster & Benson 
who Dad loved dearly but despite our promises as teenagers it was HIM that 
was doing all the dog walking.  He always welcomed our friends into the family home and if any of them had 
any problems he was happy to give his advice and let them stay over if they 
needed somewhere for instance once or twice Ben’s friends stayed with us 
here and there like Greg & Andrew with one of them found in the shed and of 
course Dad invited him in.  In his later years he would enjoy chats with both Alex & Ben over a pint in one 
of the few locals and these times were cherished and he also looked forward 
to visits from his lovely grandchildren Ryan & Elsie  His favourite pastimes was his drawings, crosswords and reading which filled 
his time after retirement and of course along with the odd local here and 
there.  He would still call Alex & Ben a BGB (Big Girls Blouse) and the odd AH (which 
I don’t think I can reveal right now what that stood for)  Dad had high standards and morals, to be very fair and kind and often 
thoughtful about the people he spent time with – Alex & Ben could only aspire 
to reach these levels and still strive to do so
 Even during his illness he always had a smile whenever we went to visit him 
in hospital or later in the care home – we will remember the happy smile and 
wave he always gave us when he saw us coming for a visit……
 He was a loving father and someone we could always turn to for advice, help 
and a sounding board as needed.  He was a gentleman who was to be modelled upon and will be sorely missed.