Officers and members of the Somerset Cricket Club, Inc showed their true colours on Thursday turning out for the funeral of Maxwell Brangman.

They were joined by a host of family and friends who affectionately knew him simply as “The Governor” and or Max.

He was the fourth of the 13 children born to Mary Brangman and her husband Hillian or “Hilly” Brangman as he was widely known.

Back in the early days of the Annual Somerset-St George’s Cup Match, Hilly Brangman and a man known as ‘Cat’ Ratteray dominated the hillside crowds in Somerset. Hilley’s distinctive voice could be hear all around the field, above the din of the other crowds.

Max was 96 years old when he passed away on March 27. He was a master mason by trade. He began his early schooling at the famous old Tin Top Building before it was burned down on Sound View Road and later attended West End Primary School.

In 1945, Max married Charlotte Dowling. Together they raised five children: Burnell, Perry, Gilda, Lorna-Mae and Marcia. Upon Charlotte’s untimely death Maxwell faced the single father role head-on, raising the children as best he could. He was a strong man, physically and mentally. Max liked to swim from the beach on the backside of the family homestead to Somerset Bridge, and back of course. He was a jovial, respectable man; a world traveller. He dated, but never remarried.

Cup Match and cricket were the dominating factors in Max’s life. When the game was in St George’s, he and the youngsters would trek to the home of Mr and Mrs George DeSilva; and if Cup Match was in Somerset, they hosted the DeSilvas.

Max and friend Gilbert Pearman took the initiative in securing a Cup Match viewing spot on the hillside. It became known as the VIPs Spot. Later when steel erections became modern, the VIPs built their own in the southeastern corner of the field.

The Ven Dr Arnold T Hollis, JP, officiated at Maxwell’s funeral. The Scriptures were read by niece Malisa Butterfield and sister-in-law Rose Brangman. Nephew Dr Glen Bascome read the obituary; and a friend, David Darrell rendered a musical selection.

The only surviving sibling of the Hilly Brangman 13-strong clan is sister Sally Perinchief, widow of the late Collington Perinchief.