AN 88-YEAR-OLD Navy veteran has proved that home is where the heart is, after repurchasing the same Honiton home where he and his wife brought up their children.

Brian Howlett, born in Hull, has lived in the same Honiton, Devon, home for over 40 years, but not without selling it and moving out for a gap of a few years along the way.

After joining the Navy at 15 years old, Brian met his wife Janet just two years later in Portsmouth.

The pair married four years later and had two children, Debbie and Gareth, eventually deciding to buy their Devon home, in 1977, where they could better house their daughter's horses, Brandy and Misty. 

When daughter Debbie moved to Dunedin, New Zealand with her children, the parents decided to follow, selling up in 2002 to make the move for good. 

The couple told the owners of their home in Honiton to let them know should it ever come back on the market, and four years later they received a call letting them know it was back up for sale.

Despite "enjoying walking and drinking the excellent wine" and being close to their family in New Zealand, the couple "just couldn't resist" returning to the special home where their children grew up and where they "hosted many a dinner party".

Brian served 18 years in the military before joining the civil service as a communications instructor in 1969, he retired in 2002 and up until Janet’s death a few years ago, Brian and Janet lived in the Honiton home together.

Debbie remains in New Zealand and Gareth lives in Edinburgh, with his family. 

Months after Janet’s death, Brian had a stroke which took him into hospital and then temporary care. After a few months, Winter, a carer from The Good Care Group, entered Brian’s life.

Winter lives in Brian’s home for six weeks at a time, taking a break of two weeks when Brian’s second carer, Monica, takes over. They provide round-the-clock care for Brian, with breaks throughout the day when either Monica, or one of Brian’s friends comes over. Some very close friends of Brian and Janet’s, Brian and Pearl, live just around the corner.

Having Winter’s care helps Brian maintain his independence in the familiarity of the home that meant so much to the family that they bought it twice.

Brian was a radio operator in the Navy and an amateur radio operator for years afterwards. His Axminster radio is still upstairs, and he likes that it’s near. In the past, he used to spend hours in his radio room, talking to people all over the world. He describes it as his “Dad time.” 

Gareth comes from Edinburgh once a year to visit his dad Brian and calls every day at the same time. Brian speaks to Debbie three or four times a week. Brian values his carer Winter’s presence in his life. Of her, he says, "she makes me feel more independent" and, most importantly, "she takes me to see Janet".

The St. Mary’s Church is just around the corner from Brian’s house and is where Janet is buried. Winter says of her visits to the church with Brian, “We often hold hands during church, especially during passages that remind Brian of his wife.”

Together, Brian and Winter host the Perocial Church Council meetings in the “heart of the house” – the dining room – every other week. They also attend and host fundraisers a few times a year. Reverend Jane and Reverend Nigel are regular visitors to Brian’s home.