Paul Brown, the former president of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, has passed away. Like his father before him, he leaves behind a hole as big as his personality.
For many in the UK demolition industry, Paul was the loud voice in the room; a man for whom protocol and formality were merely a guide to be followed or ignored as circumstances dictated.
But there was more to Paul Brown than his cigar-chomping persona. There was a passion for demolition that only a few have matched; there was a steely determination to make the industry better; and – just occasionally – there was a softer side that he kept for special occasions.
I first met Paul back in the late 1980s. I was the assistant editor of Plant Managers Journal. Paul was the founder of Bak-Ho Plant; the Surrey-based importer of Kramer wheel loaders. A few years later, together with my former business partner, I actually became Paul’s media relations agent.
Throughout his time in the plant sales arena, however, it was clear that his real passion was for demolition; a trait he inherited from his father – former NFDC president Claude Brown.
So it came as no surprise when our paths crossed again with the co-writing of the original NFDC guidance on the safe use of high reach excavators. It was an utterly one-sided collaboration. Paul brought the knowledge, the contacts, the passion, the experience. I handled the grammar.
That same passion would eventually allow him to follow in his father’s footsteps and wear the NFDC presidential chains of office. While his presidency would prove to be short-lived, I know just how proud that made him.
Over the course of more than 30 years, I saw many sides of Paul Brown; the larger-than-life personality that could take over a room full of his peers through sheer force of will; and a knowledgeable demolition man striving to make his industry incrementally better. I once saw him host a charity auction, raising thousands of pounds through a mix of good humour and something akin to extracting money with menaces.
There was another Paul too. When my former business partner passed away, Paul came to the funeral. He stood in the background, his head bowed, and he barely said a word. He offered respectful condolences to my partner’s widow and her children, he gave me a bear hug, and then he quietly slipped away.
There were many versions of Paul Brown. I am going to miss all of them.
UPDATE: Paul Brown’s funeral will take place at 12.30 on Friday 28 November at Basingstoke Crematorium, Manor Farm, Stockbridge Road, North Waltham, Basingstoke, RG25 2BA before moving on to the nearby Wheatsheaf in North Waltham.
