Basil S. Brownless, 77, of Lunenburg, died Saturday, December 21, 2002 in the Fishermen's Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg. Born in Bristol, England in 1925, the son of an Anglican minister. He was educated at Christ's Hospital - the famous Bluecoat School. He went straight from school into the Royal Navy, serving in the D-Day Invasion and also in South-East Asia. He was a legion member for many years. For 20 years, he was a journalist. He edited two weekly newspapers and worked on various British newspapers including the Oxford Mail. He then studied at Hereford Teacher's College. In 1970, he emigrated to Nova Scotia with his wife Mary, and two children, Edmund and Ruth. Continuing his studies at Acadia University, he taught English at West King's District High School, and later music to hundreds of children at various elementry schools in the Annapolis Valley and the South Shore, over a period of nearly 20 years, staging a number of large musical productions. He wrote songs and verses, and composed a number of part-songs. He was organist and choir director at various churches, including Berwick Baptist Church, St Mary's, Auburn, and St Stephen's, Chester, where he was instrumental in the installation of the classical pipe organ in 1981. Retiring to Lunenburg, he was responsible for the restoration of Solomon House, and also the historic mural in the old courthouse (now St John's Church Hall). He was chairman of the Heritage Committee for some years and a member of the Parish Council. After the disastrous fire at St John's Anglican Church, he wrote two books about the church: The Story of Lunenburg's Most Historic Church, and Some Thoughts on the Rebuilding of St John's Anglican Church. He arranged about 200 hymns and songs for the church bells which he presented to the church handwritten in the form of a book. This miraculously survived the fire.

The family wishes to express many thanks to everyone, especially our friend George Munroe, Archdeacon Gregory Pritchard and all many friends who have been so kind and helpful during his illness. The attention given by Dr. Blaine Beaton, Dr. David Abriel and all the wonderful nurses at Fishermen's Memorial Hospital has been very much appreciated. Many thanks also to Zion Lutheran Church, and to Mike Zinck of Dana L. Sweeny Funeral Home for his kind attention. He is survived by his wife Mary, Lunenburg; son, Edmund, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; and a daughter Ruth and son-in-law Rod Mackay, St Stephen, New Brunswick. A commemoration service was held on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Lunenburg, Rev. Dr. Gregory Pritchard officated...