Brian Rust: 1922-2011

Brian Rust died peacefully in his sleep, just after midnight, on January 5th, 2011, at Wordsworth Care Home in Swanage, Dorset, England.

Brian was a quiet, nice man, and always a true friend. It’s difficult to find something to say that isn’t in the introduction to JR6 or elsewhere on the website, but my love and respect for him not just as a professional, but especially as a human, can never be sufficiently expressed. Brian was to his craft, what Picasso was to art or Louis Armstrong was to music or James Watt was to industry. Other people had done what he did before him. He didn’t invent discography. He just did it in a different way from the inherited wisdom.

It essentially has been done his way, since. His work formed the basis for others to build on; the good ones gave him credit. He also took pressure, criticism and even calumny, as the good craftsman does. He did not give as he got, but used what he felt met his needs, and had the courage to set aside that which he felt did not. In his life, he never considered anything he had done noteworthy, let alone admirable or deserving of praise.

He refused military service in the War, because he was a man of conscience. I don’t doubt that he took pressure, criticism and even calumny. What he himself never shared, even with me, was that, instead, he became a London firefighter, during the Blitz. He didn’t invent serving his countrymen. He just did it in a different way from inherited wisdom.

Brian did what he could with what he was handed, to the best of his ability and in the manner of his choosing, the highest eulogy any man can earn. For me, the tacit refusal at all times to do it someone else’s way, under pressure, will always make that quiet, nice man, always a true friend, a hero in my eyes.

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