I love you Bry, and miss you so much as my time gets closer, but will enjoy meeting up with you again so much. its been lonely here for so long I forget when it wasn't. xx x x xx  xxx 

Don't judge me for how I left this world, Remember the love I gave
Alot of grief will follow me for the decision that I made
Changes appear in everyone's life; Some good, some bad
The one I chose for myself made my family very sad
But in time memories will heal the hurt of hearts
And my presence will be felt by all with an inner peace

Remember me when the sun is bright and laughter fills the air
And a moonlit night and a whisper of wind will tell you I am there
Don't look down on my family, or fill their hearts with blame
For my leaving them without good-byes they will never be the same
If I could go back in time, I'd say a last good-bye
I'd tell them to "Look to tomorrow; and for me do not cry."

     







      

This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one,
Bryan Charles Swanson, who was born in the United Kingdom on 
December 01, 1940 and passed away on June 03, 1983 at the age of 42. We will remember him forever.                                       

Bryan was born in Chatham Kent, his dad was away in the war at the time and so he lived with his mum and grandmother until he was 5 years of age, his grandma was more like a mum to him at this time as his mum worked in a hospital on shifts,. I met Bryan when he was 19 years old, I was 17 and we married 2 weeks before my 18th birthday. it was wonderful when we met, it was *love at first sight* I knew from the moment of making eye contact that we would be together and I thought that would be forever.. We had 5 children, our first, a daughter Carolynne 3 months after my 19th birthday, that was the start of 5 kids in 11 years. a lot of life happening during that time, not always good of course.
This will be continued......................... 

 A resourceful and intelligent man, Bryan combined a powerful 
charisma with an emotional vulnerability which betrayed the suffering 
he had undergone during his formative years at the hands of his parents. 

The early years of his marriage were perhaps the apogee of his 
emotional fulfillment, but sadly all to quickly passed.  By the time he 
reached his early twenties he was embroiled in emotional upheaval 
that nearly spelt the end of his hard-won and idealistic family life.

Eventually his young wife forgave him, but the seeds of his ultimate 
destruction had already been sowed.Though desperately in love 
the young couple found themselves out of their depth in the 
emotional tide-pools created by the pressures of their new family.  
Equally ill-equipped to battle the trip-wires of life, they struggled to 
overcome the obstacles of their difficult upbringings.  Their love 
was constantly challenged by external factors, and although it was 
never to diminish, bit by bit circumstances undermined the uplifting 
wonder of their first time together as daily life ground them down.

It was at this time that the cruel contingency of fate struck Bryan 
with a debilitating disease which ate away his dignity as it ate 
away his very body. For him the children gradually became a 
yoke which he struggled to bear with cheerfulness.  Around him 
work and life challenges left him increasingly angry and disillusioned.  
The precious one to one relationship with his beautiful young wife 
was constantly challenged. And yet for a while life seemed to promise 
so much.  New houses and cars followed on from promotion and the 
birth of yet more kids.  He knew he had so much to be grateful for....
and yet he remained ultimately unfulfilled.

New excitements beckoned.  Flirtations with neighbours and the law.  
It was as if a part of him needed clear and present danger - just like 
the way he rode his powerful motorcycles when a young man.  Something had to give. Eventually that would prove to be his beloved Val.
With the benefit of hindsight he would probably have done things 
differently, but Bryan was ever a proud and independant man.  
Almost before he could get a grip on what was happening, he found 
himself in a courtroom, contesting his wife for his children.

In the years that followed he would never admit what he secretly knew; that he had allowed his pride to destroy his relationship with the one person who meant more to him than any other ever could.That the two of them could come together once more after so many bitter years of separation was proof enough of the depth of their love.  That he could imagine she was leaving him again after such a short and happy time together was proof of his abiding emotional fragility.The deadly combination of emotional and physical fragility in one who had undergone so much suffering could have only one conclusion. When Bryan died aged only 42 he left behind him a family bereft.  Though he did not know it in life, his presence had carried each and every one of them as if on his broad shoulders.  His wife (surely 'now and forever') and his children had worshipped this troubled and gifted man.  His passing would leave every one of them poorer and even helpless.  Lost in the grief and wonder of their absent leader.  Bryan was dead.  God, how could that be?

He had a brutal upbringing and a difficult life.  He was smart arrogant 
and razor sharp.  Second to no man, Bryan lived his life in the only way 
he knew how.  No one who knew him will ever forget him.Though he would have scorned growing old and losing his prowress, we so wish he was here with us now.   

This was written by Bryan and Val's son Bryan Jr.
                                          

                  
                    

 This candle burns  for ever for Bryan.

All My Love Forever Dear Bryan XX



Stairway To Heaven