Brian P Sharman

Born in Wigmore, Gillingham, in 1945, to parents evacuated from southeast London, Brian grew up alongside an older sister and a younger brother.

He attended the 'Camp School' in Rainham; then went on to Rainham Secondary School for Boys, took the Dockyard exam and completed a five year apprenticeship in Chatham Dockyard as an Electric Fitter and Turner attaining a Higher National Certificate. This was followed by a Degree in Electrical Power Engineering from Woolwich Polytechnic/Thames University. Joining Lloyd's Register of Shipping as an Exclusive Electrical Engineer Surveyor in 1973, Brian had a 35 year career rising to Global Electrotechnical Leader serving as a UK Expert, developing rules and regulations for electrical installations, on national and international Technical Committees, chairing the International Electrotechnical Commission Committee for electrical installations on Ships and Offshore. One of his more memorable projects was the refitting of the QE2 where Brian was part of the owner's specialist team in assessing the competing initial electrical designs, selecting the preferred electrical contractor, approving the final design and surveying the electrical equipment at the manufacture's works. This included two of the largest electrical motors ever built at 44 megawatts each and 9 metres diameter. Brian came to Teynham to live in September 1973 after marrying Jennifer (Jenny); moving into a newly built house on Honeyball Walk, where Brian still lives and where they bought up two boys, Paul and Jonathan. Jenny, a well-known opera singer, died of ovarian cancer in 2009. He commuted to London from Teynham station.

Having both come from villages they were aware that in order to get the greatest benefits they needed to 'get involved' and join clubs and/or village organisations.

They became members of the Teynham and Lynsted Welcome Home Sports and Social Committee (WHSSC) which ran the Carnival Queen Selection Dance, the Carnival, the Carnival Dance, the Summer Fete, Father Christmas Delivery Service and Children's Christmas Party. The committee went on to run Old Time Music Halls where Brian built the scenery and installed the stage lighting having previously used his manual skills, alongside other members of the committee in laying out the Frognal Lane field for events and building the Carnival floats. Brian also represented WHSSC on the Frognal Lane Management Committee. (FLMC).

Brian became a member of Teynham Parish Council in the early 1980's, in those days a traditional council. After leaving the council for a short time work/career connected transfer period to Quebec, Canada, Brian re-joined a younger, more proactive council. By this time the council had bought The Meadow playing field, the Village Hall was being built and a Parish Council magazine was being produced.Brian joined the Teynham News Committee, was an inaugural member of The Meadow Committee and represented the Council on the FLMC. He has been an active member of the Planning Committee ever since first joining the Council.

In subsequent years Brian represented the Council on the Village Hall Management Committee and was part of the team of Councillors that established the London Road Car Park and later agreed to the 125 year lease. When Lynsted Parish Council relinquished any responsibility for the Frognal Lane Field, Brian, as part of a team established an independent management committee to carry out the day to day operations under a legal contract and negotiated the rental lease and cost with the owners of the field. Also by this time Brian had taken over the production of Teynham News using computers, which were in their infancy.

As computer technology further developed, Brian, by then Vice Chair of the Council, had introduced one for administrative functions by the Parish Clerk, Chris Mcllroy. A Parish Council website was also being produced by Brian from material in Teynham News, www.teynham.org. This is now maintained as a historical site.

In later years, Brian, negotiated the acquisition and undertook, with others, the major refurbishment of the old Labour Hall, renamed it Teynham Community Hall and has guided it to success. He twice oversaw the rebuilding of the Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Memorial Pump after demolition in car accidents. After one of the longest periods in recent times as Chairman of the Parish Council, living with Parkinson's disease, Brian has taken a back seat advisory role on the Council.

On 14th December 2021 Brian was awarded the prestigious Honorary Freedom of the Parish of Teynham as a token of our thanks for his continued tierless efforts for our village. Thank you Brian from The Parish of Teynham.