Ex-parish councillor honoured

Keith Nethercoate-Bryant did not miss a single meeting when he served on Upper Beeding Parish Council, from 1980 to 2005.

A silver birch tree has been planted close to his house, in Upper Beeding, in recognition of his contribution to the village.

Parish council chairman John Peake led the tributes to Mr Nethercoate-Bryant at a recent ceremony.

Mr Peake said: "He has done so much. I am in total awe of him."

Mr Nethercoate-Bryant had been chairman of every council committee during his 25 years on the parish council and played a major role in the Twinaid project, which involved Upper Beeding and Bramber "adopting" the Somalian village of Yobe.

During five years in the 1980s, 20,000 was raised for the African villagers. Donations of clothing during that time even led to the children of Yobe wearing the same uniform as their peers at Upper Beeding Primary School.

Mr Nethercoate-Bryant served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and has since had books published on submarines, as well as on Shoreham and Brighton.

Also at the ceremony was Steyning resident and district councillor George Cockman, who congratulated Mr Nethercoate-Bryant on his achievements.

"I remember the many years we worked together on local history. Keith did a tremendous job. I also believe that a community that values its past has a much better sense of the needs of the present, and I think Keith exemplifies this," said Mr Cockman said.

He told Mr Nethercoate-Bryant: "You have been a super friend and your contributions are appreciated well beyond Beeding. Many congratulations on this. You deserve it."

Mr Nethercoate-Bryant said: "It is encouraging. Many parish councillors go for years without any thanks. You take all the flak without any reward for what you do.

"Not that you want it, but it is nice to get a little pat on the back sometimes."

He added that since retiring from the council last year, he had found plenty of things to occupy his time.

"I have been busier," he said. "I have written two more books since then. I tried writing the story of the submarine service from the lower deck rather than the officers' point of view. It hadn't really been done before."