David James Hubbard 3rd April 1940 to 21st January 1950.

 

David was a lively loveable lad with wiry mid brown hair and brown eyes, he was the only one of us (not including Mother who had hazel eyes) who had brown eyes. Father, John, Laurie and I with blue eyes. Mine have gone more bluey/greeny-hazel over recent years.

I remember Mother once saying she thought David would be a ballet dancer.

He and I used to love dressing up in the old dresses that were in a trunk in the attic at South Walsham Rectory. They were used I think for summer fetes at the rectory garden.

On that fateful day of the tragedy, I was getting over some childish complaint, cold or something and Mother had put me in J and L's bedroom as it got the sun. David came in dressed up in this cotton/organza dress and stood by the old fashioned electric fire, (I think and am sure unknowingly) and it all happened very quickly. It was a tragic accident of extreme misfortune and highly flammable material.

I never saw David again and only just vaguely remember his funeral. John and Laurie of course remember it better than me. Laurie referred to it recently I believe.

David's passing left a big gap in my life; he was a brother and soul mate.

Father's words were very profound for his tombstone, "With Christ which is far better". Father once said David was too good for this world. Both Father and Mother were very perceptive in their individual ways.

Michael Andrew HUBBARD February 2013

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