He was born in North Middlesex Hospital, England and he grew up in Finchley which is now a part of northern London. He was the son of the late Frederick and Olive Bradley of Finchley. He was a choir boy at St. Luke’s Church of England in Finchley for three years. He finished school at the age of 15 and moved to the family farm in Northern Ireland where he became a dairy farmer. He also became a dowser (which means he can find water) and many people in Northern Ireland used his services. He loved the country living but when he married the first time, his wife wanted to live in London, England, so they moved there. He was a milk delivery man, a landscaper, but his primary job was working with diesel pumps where he later became the “troubleshooter” for all problems dealing with the pumps. He also made the prototypes for some parts of the Concorde.
After his divorce, he moved back to Northern Ireland where he rebuilt the family home after it had been destroyed by fire. He then went to work as Security for the local library and even took classes in Library Science before moving on to working for the government in Crown Buildings as a Security Guard. He also joined Mensa and attended Open University working on his college degree. After his marriage to Sally Sue who lived in Coweta County at the time, he came to America and worked as a Security Guard at Fayette Community Hospital. At the same time, he started a greenhouse business called “The English Garden” and he sold plants to friends, neighbors, and co-workers. He also became a Master Gardener.
Right after his retirement from Fayette Community Hospital, he and Sally Sue moved to North Carolina where he continued with his greenhouse business until they moved back to Pickens County before moving on to LaGrange, GA.
He had always wanted to travel but couldn’t when he was younger, so he and Sally Sue started traveling and collecting local art after retirement. They have visited 46 countries. With his interest in local art, he started taking classes in watercolor painting when he lived in Pickens County, GA, and oil painting at the Active Life Senior Center in LaGrange.
He is survived by his wife, Sally Sue, and his children –a daughter, Samantha of Queensland, Australia; sons David, Robin, and Adrian all of London, and two more daughters, Sharon and Allison, both living in London. He also has two brothers, Jim and Malcolm and two sisters, Barbara and Sue – all in England.
The funeral will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Hillview East Cemetery. Visitation will be at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary on Tuesday, July 2, 2019 from 6-8 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army Disaster Relief or the Active Life Senior Center in LaGrange, GA in memory of Mr. Eric Victor John Bradley.
Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.
Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636
