Born in Malaya, the son of a rubber planter, and following school at Radley, Jeffrey Browning was one of the first Regular officers to join the 8th Hussars, then stationed at Leicester, after the war.
A Regimental standard games player, coupled with Sandhurst training, he quickly made his mark as a most promising and popular young officer. He served with distinction in Korea – first as a troop leader with ‘B’ Squadron and then on secondment to the United States Air Force as an air observer for which he was awarded the US Air Medal.
In Luneburg on return, and by then a junior captain, he represented the Regiment in boxing, hockey and cricket teams, captaining the latter two. He also found time to pursue his other great interest – sports cars. Arriving from Sandhurst at Leicester in a red MG, to the added awe of other lesser mortals including the writer of this, he went on to own a succession of fast cars to drive in rally competitions.
In 1958 however, to the Regiment’s loss, civilian life called, and, by then married, he and the family moved to Suffolk. Jeffrey’s first venture was in mink farming, but sadly this failed, and thereafter, in the best Regimental tradition of friendly help, he worked in the broiler chicken business, and later with his great friend, Maj John Hurst, in his company, Southern Coolers Limited.
In recent years sports came into their own. He played cricket for the Gentlemen of Suffolk, and at Aldeburgh where he was such a popular member, crowned a notable golf career by winning the Easter Foursomes, the Club’s most prestigious event.
First and foremost a family man, tragically cancer struck him and he died on 10 March 2001 surrounded by his devoted wife Anne and their four children.
