BURLEY, ALFRED JAMES - Alfred James Burley, at home on 29th October 2014, at the age of 91. An ardent bibliophile, and amateur historian, Jim loved to collect books on the history of Great Britain and in particular London, where he was born and spent much of his working life. His fascination with London was fuelled by his reading the works of Dickens and Conan Doyle as a boy. He delighted in exploring the old London described by these authors, but later he would lament the disappearance of so many of these areas as a result of the bombing in World War II. A gifted raconteur, Jim had a wealth of anecdotes about his wartime experiences as a member of the Signal Corps in Italy and North Africa, with which he entertained family and friends. He also acquired a knowledge of Italian while abroad and, possessing a fine baritone voice, would often sing Italian love songs in the evenings – especially after office Christmas parties! Jim's love of literature was not limited to history and fiction; he enjoyed poetry, especially that of Wordsworth and Tennyson, and wrote a number of poems himself during the war. His facility with words was equalled by his mathematical ability, which won him a high place in the national examination for entry to the British civil service. Jim and his wife Hazel, who died in 2009, emigrated to Canada in 1996 to be near their only child and her family. They found a warm welcome in New Brunswick and loved the people that they met. Jim, historian, poet, mathematician, and singer of songs, Jim, who was so much fun to be with, leaves behind a sorrowing family – daughter Lynne, son-in-law Donald, grandchildren Amber (married to Scott) and Fenning, and in England, a favourite niece, Tara.
Arrangements are under the care of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). At Alfred’s request, there will be no visitation or service.