BRIAN CRUMBLEY FRICS, 1958-2017

Brian Aidan Crumbley has passed away aged 59, two years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.  After receiving the devastating news he embraced the fight with courage, resilience and good humour but after outstanding treatment at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle he passed away at home surrounded by his wife, Julie, his three children, Kate, Leo and Sophie and his labrador, Archie.

Brian was a big man in every sense, and he had a happy, fulfilling and successful life.  He had a charm, personality and joie de vivre that made him the man to know, and once met was totally unforgettable.

After graduating from Newcastle Polytechnic in 1980, he started his career at Storey Sons & Parker, before joining Grainger Trust in 1981 where he helped in growing the company from when it was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1983. He later established his own commercial practice before joining Smith Cole Wright in 2012.

Brian threw himself wholeheartedly into his professional life and was very active regionally for the RICS, becoming the Chair of Junior Organisation committee (now matrics) in 1988 and he was a current member of the RICS North East Regional Board. He was an exceptionally successful fund raiser for the RICS Benevolent Fund, organising many events, including a float in the Newcastle Lord Mayors parade where he persuaded colleagues to dress in lion suits for the occasion. He was a major influence in maintaining the great work of the 1947 Club in the region, an organisation of former JO/matrics members whose mission statement is to support current matrics members and maintain social and business networking.

In keeping with one of Brian’s great loves (apart from his family and Newcastle United) the theme for his funeral was ‘a day at the races’, with those friends and colleagues who attended a packed out church wearing bright colours and commemorative race badges provide by Newcastle Racecourse.

The response to his passing confirmed that the man adored by his family was loved and respected by so many people.  Brian is a massive loss to his family and the surveying community, not just in the north east of England.

He is greatly missed.