Although Brian Lazenby saw much of the world during his years in the Merchant Navy, Hadleigh was the town which had a special place in his heart.
“Brian will be much missed in Hadleigh,” said councillor Kathryn Grandon, for Hadleigh South, paying tribute to him at a Babergh Council meeting earlier this month.
“He was a big, friendly character. He knew everyone, and he wanted to help everyone.”
Brian Lazenby served as Mayor of Hadleigh three times. (Image: Archant Archive)
Brian was born in Kingston upon Hull on June 23, 1933, to John Lazenby and his wife, Geeske, whose family came from the Netherlands.
Brian and his younger brother, Barry, grew up in Hull, where they had a “lovely” childhood, said Brian’s daughter, Maria. Their father was a milkman, and Brian would tell stories about being allowed to bathe in the leftover milk, which is said to leave the skin soft and glowing, making this a popular beauty treatment for the queens of years gone by.
Brian was six when the war broke out, and his father was sent away to fight. This was a terrifying time for children, and Brian recalled huddling in the Anderson in their back garden, seeing the wreckage of his friends’ houses when he walked to school the next morning.
After studying at the local grammar school, the teenaged Brian signed up for the Merchant Navy. His mother did not want her son to go to sea, but Brian’s father supported him.
He would spend the next 42 years travelling the world’s oceans.
Brian finished his gruelling training on the Vindicatrix before setting sail for America, then the Mediterranean and Africa. At 21, he became the youngest ever catering officer in the Merchant Navy. He would also serve as the representative for the seamen’s’ union and managed to immensely improve conditions for his colleagues.
In 1952, Brian had signed up for a voyage to Finland, as that year’s Olympic Games would be taking place in Helsinki.
It was in Finland, around ten years later, that Brian met Ulla, the woman who was to become his wife.
It was quite by chance, explained Maria, for her parents had been set up on a blind date.
“My godmother was seeing the ship’s chief engineer at the time,” said Maria. Her godmother had the task of choosing a friend for a date with Brian.
Maria’s godmother chose wisely, and Ulla and Brian soon tied the knot. They shared one daughter, Maria, while Brian also had two elder daughters.
Brian and Ulla remained in the country until Maria was 14, when they set sail for Suffolk.
Brian had been stationed on the new ‘Roll-on/Roll-off’ cargo ships that were frequently docking at Felixstowe, which is how they came to settle in our county.
“Dad was getting details for houses through newspapers, and it just happened that he had some sent to him from Hadleigh,” explained Maria.
“I liked the look of one of the houses, and I pointed and said, ‘This is going to be my room.’”
Again, fate ensured that this house would become the family home, with the Brian, Ulla and Maria arriving in Hadleigh in 1976.
It was difficult adjusting to a new country at first, but soon, Hadleigh came to occupy a very special place in Brian’s heart.
After retiring from the Merchant Navy, he gave countless hours of his own time for the betterment of the town and fought for the people who lived there.
He served on Hadleigh Town Council as well as Babergh District Council, and was appointed Mayor of Hadleigh three times, in 1999, 2008 and 2013.
“He took all his people and constituents very personally – he always helped people,” said Maria.
“He always took on his constituents’ plight with anything, and would often win the situation, because he was a pretty good arguer!”
Brian was particularly proud of his work as a trustee of South Suffolk Leisure, with one of his last projects being to “get the ball rolling” on a new swimming pool for Hadleigh, something he “pushed and pushed for”, said Maria.
Councillor Peter Beer, for Great Cornard, also paid tribute to Brian.
“He was a man of the people, a real champion, who didn’t suffer fools gladly,” he said. “What I liked about him was that he was very genuine.”
Councillor David Busby, for Copdock and Washbrook, echoed his colleagues’ words.
“He was what I call a true local councillor, he was very keen on helping people, helping the community, and helping Hadleigh in particular,” he said.
“He was the best dad ever,” said Maria. “He was very generous, loving helpful – my rock.”
