FORMER Old Farnhamians’ Association president Bryan Bone has died at his Liphook home.

Bryan was well known in Farnham and had his insurance broking business in Castle Street for many years.

He was born in Hale, went to Hale School, and passed his 11+ exam for Farnham Grammar School.

On leaving the school in 1952, he began working for Eagle Star Insurance. Eventually, he started Bone & Co with his wife Shirley and during that time was elected president of Farnham Chamber of Commerce.

He also gained a certificate for further education and taught at Farnborough College and at the Chartered Institute Centre in Surbiton.

In 1981, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association invited him to write a book entitled Insurance Broking, and he also produced several videos on the subject.

He wrote many articles for magazines and textbooks.

Bryan and Shirley had two children – their son Geoffrey lives in New Zealand and daughter Christine lives in Germany. He regularly visited them both, also seeing his grandchildren.

He developed a passion for David Lloyd George, who once lived in Churt which was where Bryan as a boy spent summers picking tomatoes on the Lloyd George estate.

He began to wear his hair longer and grow a bushy moustache, becoming a “Lloyd George look-a-like”.

On retiring, he moved to the village in Wales where the former Prime Minister was born. Eventually, Bryan moved back to the Farnham area and in recent years lived in Liphook.

He was an active member of the Old Farnhamians’ Association, becoming president in 2011 and 2012.

He was a committee member of the Farnhamian 400 Trust and attended most events at the former grammar school. He remained in contact with many former classmates.

Over the past few years he developed a heart problem which prevented him from leading a fully active life. It is understood that he suffered a heart attack in his sleep on February 19.

Cyril Trust, a fellow Old Farnhamian, said: “Bryan was very proud of his roots and he had many friends in the Hale and Farnham area.

“He was a regular visitor to the monthly Hale History Project and donated a great deal of memorabilia to the organisation.

“His interest in David Lloyd George resulted in him giving several local lectures at the Museum of Farnham. His ambition was to complete an autobiography of this famous and infamous Prime Minister. Unfortunately, Bryan chose not to have a computer and did most of his writings long hand.”

He added that Bryan was “part of the Farnham framework” and was “truly a Farnham man”.

* There will be a service of remembrance on Friday, March 22, at Milland Evangelical Church, Liphook, at 11am. Bryan will then be cremated at The Oaks Crematorium in Havant at 1pm. Family flowers only. Donations can be made to The Second Chance Children’s Charity.