A Life Well-Lived
Remembering
Adrian
Broddle
Adrian was a larger than life character, a resourceful entrepreneur through and through, who always had a joke at the ready and a twinkle in his eye especially when he was talking about the family he was so fondly and fiercely proud of. He was a man who knew his own mind from an early age -- his childhood passions for trains, soccer and dogs stayed with him his whole life.
Adrian was a larger than life character, a resourceful entrepreneur through and through, who always had a joke at the ready and a twinkle in his eye especially when he was talking about the family he was so fondly and fiercely proud of. He was a man who knew his own mind from an early age -- his childhood passions for trains, soccer and dogs stayed with him his whole life.
He was born in England in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War, to parents who were so sure he was going to be a girl, the minister at his christening very nearly gave him the name they’d written on the registry: Frances Mary. Adrian recalled that as a toddler, with his father away in the air force, he and his mother lived through the blitz days in Hull, Yorkshire, describing how she went to work one morning to find the entire building gone - her employer only wanted to know if she’d taken the petty cash home!
As he grew up, he came to love trainspotting - a pastime involving hours of noting numbers of trains that escapes the comprehension of his children and grandchildren alike - which set off a lifelong love of trains and train journeys from the Royal Hudson to Squamish to the Amtrak to Seattle and L.A. When he was 21 he was called up or, as he described it, “the Royal Air Force requested my presence.” He recalled that, up until then, “I had spent most of my spare time on cricket fields, soccer fields and badminton courts, which actually would help me in the combat forces,” although less helpful was the fact that “all my sports involvements included the points and pints after the show as it were.” He then joined his father in working as an optician, eventually moving to London where, as he would tell you in colourful detail, he personally waited on Elton John and provided glasses to the Royal household.
As he grew up, he came to love trainspotting - a pastime involving hours of noting numbers of trains that escapes the comprehension of his children and grandchildren alike - which set off a lifelong love of trains and train journeys from the Royal Hudson to Squamish to the Amtrak to Seattle and L.A. When he was 21 he was called up or, as he described it, “the Royal Air Force requested my presence.” He recalled that, up until then, “I had spent most of my spare time on cricket fields, soccer fields and badminton courts, which actually would help me in the combat forces,” although less helpful was the fact that “all my sports involvements included the points and pints after the show as it were.” He then joined his father in working as an optician, eventually moving to London where, as he would tell you in colourful detail, he personally waited on Elton John and provided glasses to the Royal household.
Glamorous customers aside, a weariness of the London commute and a sense of optimistic adventure saw him moving his family from Surrey, England to Winnipeg, Canada on a frigid night as 1972 became 1973. As his friend drove them around looking for their house, Adrian leapt out of the car not quite yet realizing that -40 degrees will frostburn your ears in about 30 seconds. He lasted one year in Winnipeg and then, after a summer road trip in a tent trailer to Vancouver, decided the West Coast was a much more hospitable (and warm) place to settle and put down roots, staying there, mostly in South Surrey and White Rock, for the next 40+ years.
Glamorous customers aside, a weariness of the London commute and a sense of optimistic adventure saw him moving his family from Surrey, England to Winnipeg, Canada on a frigid night as 1972 became 1973. As his friend drove them around looking for their house, Adrian leapt out of the car not quite yet realizing that -40 degrees will frostburn your ears in about 30 seconds. He lasted one year in Winnipeg and then, after a summer road trip in a tent trailer to Vancouver, decided the West Coast was a much more hospitable (and warm) place to settle and put down roots, staying there, mostly in South Surrey and White Rock, for the next 40+ years.
He ran his own chain of optical stores called Surrey Vision Centre before shifting gears entirely and joining a startup venture called Saddlenotch Log Homes. He saw the connection through the sales pitch…”Find out what people want and then figure out how to give it to them” was his mantra, whether it was fashionable eyeglasses or timber houses…or lottery tickets at the Ocean Park Smoke Shop, which he also co-managed along the way, or early morning newspapers via his network of delivery routes. His final career chapter was running a painting business called Quality Street where he was never happier being his own boss on his own terms.
Perhaps because he found it somewhat lonely being raised as an only child, he seemed determined to provide his own offspring with plenty of company, beginning with three children with his first wife Pauline and adding three more with his second wife Adelle.
He loved being surrounded by his big extended family: Alison (Myke) with children Alex and Kate; Rachel (Rob) and children Hannah and Matt; Mark (Barb) with son Liam; Stephen and children Julian and Kiernan; Timberly (Tim) and Gayle with children Greysen and Brodie.
He was a tireless supporter of his children and their various activities, whether through coaching, cheering on or endless chauffeuring, always believing they were each destined for fame and fortune. He continued that enthusiasm with his grandchildren, (despite the decision of some to choose hockey or baseball over his beloved beautiful game of soccer) and remained forever proud that his fervour nearly got him at least one yellow card on the sidelines.
From the time they met, he was rarely far from his wife Adelle – managing soccer teams and running businesses together and raising All. Those. Children. He knew he was better as a boss and as a parent with her…and so proud of her nursing career, praising her skills and patience right up until the end.
Adrian loved his big cars (Landaus and LeBarons), his assortment of dogs, his cigars (Romeo y Julietas) and surprising waiters with off-menu unusual drink and dessert requests. He played a good game of darts and made a mean Shepherd’s pie. He understood the restorative value of a good road trip, accompanied by ABBA or an old time crooner on the car stereo, often driving from Vancouver to Kelowna, Calgary or Washington State and, on one memorable occasion, all the way from Winnipeg to Banff in a single stretch after visitors from England innocently asked if it was possible to have a quick look at the Rockies. He was a storyteller who loved nothing more than an attentive audience and some time to spin a yarn.
But it was his pride and appreciation for his family that truly defined him and was on display right until the end, praising and reveling in everyone’s careers and families.
He often said his family was absolutely everything to him and his greatest achievement, evident in his bragging about someone’s accomplishment or basking in the glow of someone else’s attention or telling stories about the ones who weren’t around. By example he taught strength and resilience and the importance of having each other to lean on.
Mind how you go, Adrian. We will all always miss you. xoxo