Former Senior Magistrate Donald Browne passes
DONALD BROWNE, former Army man, Senior Magistrate, and Local Preacher in the Methodist Church, will be laid to rest this weekend, two weeks after he died at his Sans Souci home. He started his working life as a teacher before migrating to the United Kingdom and enlisting in the Army, where he attained the Territorial Decoration (TD), which is a Military medal that is awarded for long service in the Territorial Force.
While in the Army, Browne pursued studies in Law and went into private practise. On returning home, he served in the public service as Crown Counsel, Solicitor General, and his final posting was that of Senior Magistrate. Browne, who also tried his hand briefly at representative politics, also served short stints acting as Attorney General. When his contract as Solicitor General was not renewed, Browne took up an offer to serve as Senior Magistrate in St Kitts and Nevis, serving there for a few years before being presented with the opportunity to return home to serve as Senior Magistrate. When, after some years his contract was not renewed, Browne returned to private practise, and that is where he ended his professional life. Veteran lawyer, Rene Baptiste, got to know Browne while he served in the post of Solicitor General. She recalls that a number of legal practitioners “who had occasion to appear before him were saying earlier this week that he was such a gentle soul, and he was always in full control of the court, and was very firm with offenders”.
He appeared to them to be a quite stern individual on the streets, and some were a bit uncertain how they would be treated when they appeared before him in court but, “ they all recalled that he treated them with utmost courtesy and respect,” Baptiste recounted.
Browne served as President of the Royal St Vincent Legion for many years, and also gave service in the SVG Scouts Association where Baptiste also served with him for around two years, while some specific administrative work was being undertaken.
One stand out during this period was Browne’s particular attention in the joint preparation and execution of Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, when there would be the laying of the wreath at the Cenotaph, in remembrance of Vincentian Soldiers who fought for Britain in the two World Wars. “He would always ensure that the members of the Legion were present and given due respect.” Baptiste had no doubt that Browne was not just a legal professional; he also was a man who had a passion for Civic duty.
While Browne suffered from a circulation problem and obtained medical services abroad, he really “took ill” about five weeks before his death, his wife of 24 years, Cecelia, told SEARCHLIGHT. He chatted up to the day before his death on August 1, 2024, committing his end to God and handing responsibility for the home to his wife. “He told me not to be bothered, so I am not worried, “ the widow shared,” he said he made me the head of the household”. Browne, who was a father of eight, also served as a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church from back in 1951, serving mainly in congregations in the Georgetown/Mt Coke Circuit. In his latter days, he was ministered to as a shut in.
Donald Browne will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 14, 2024. The funeral service will be held at the Georgetown Methodist Church, and his remains will be interred at the Belle Vue Cemetery.
Browne would have turned 92 in November.
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