Derek Browne

Derek Brown is 68 years old and has been a resident of Brockenhurst for over 35 years. He introduced the idea of 'Exercise on Presecription' from his General Practice Surgery in 1983. He ran the London Marathon in 1983 and raised over £34k which purchased the freehold of Brockenhurst Village hall from Hampshire County Council and also bought a pony for 'Riding for the Disabled' and gave grants to many local village organisations including scouts, guides and older people. The idea of using the community to improve health and social concerns and the village's own organisations created 'Healthy Village'. This idea was recoganised as the first in the world by the World Health Organisation. There were 'Healthy City' projects but no 'Healthy Villages'. The project was evaluated by the Wessex Regional Health Authority and outcomes showed an improvement in the 'Quality of Living' index in those persons who took part in the research project. The village was recognised in 2009 as the second best place in the country to grow old. The study used data from over 3 million pension records. It was suggested that the 'Healthy Village' and pioneering efforts by Dr Derek Browne helped to make this possible. In my view he is more than worthy to carry the Olympic Flame because of the lasting effects he has had on our local community.as well as the purchase of the freehold of Brockenhurst Village hall from Hampshire County Council- the council used this sum to improve the local primary school