Dad to open Will Brown Jr’s dessert parlour in Folkestone in memory of son killed in suspected hit-and-run

A grieving dad is opening a dessert parlour to honour the memory of his son, who died aged seven in a suspected hit-and-run.

William Brown Jr was tragically killed as he crossed the road in Sandgate when he went to retrieve a football on December 6.

Now his father, William Brown Sr, has started a new venture featuring everything his son loved.

The shop in Folkestone^[1] town centre will be serving ice creams, waffles, pick-and-mix and other sweet treats.

The walls inside are adorned with stunning murals of William and Mr Brown told KentOnline he wants to be reminded of his son “all the time”.

“I've decided to open it because I'm going through a grieving process,” he said.

“I’m obviously struggling with processing what's happened.

William Brown Sr has opened a shop in memory of his son in Folkestone

“I want to keep myself busy and I want to keep my child remembered.

“I'm doing this to honour my son because I love him so much and I want to just be reminded of him all the time.”

The 35-year-old construction company boss already owned the unit in Sandgate Road but had plans to rent it out before his son’s death.

Looking back on photos gave him the inspiration for the business.

“I printed them all out and when I was looking through them all, he either had an ice cream in his hand or a slush puppy,” he recalled.

William Brown, who died in Sandgate near Folkestone, loved ice cream

The Folkestone shop is "full of everything Will loved"

“I've got so many memories of that and I know that's what he loved.

“If all this hadn’t happened I would have never done this shop in a million years.

“Now it’s all I really want to do and I have a real passion for it.”

The parlour will be called Will Brown Jr’s and it is hoped they will be welcoming their first customers on May 27 - a Bank Holiday Monday.

The decor features beautiful murals on the walls - painted by another parent from St Eanswythe's school, which William attended - as well as Mr Brown’s own VW campervan.

Will Brown Sr's own campervan is in the Folkestone shop

The front facade of the shop in Folkestone had to be removed to get the campervan in

“He never actually got to see the van, which is tragic to me,” he said.

“This is his shop, so I’ve given it to him.”

The front facade of the store had to be removed to get the vehicle in the unit.

A 7ft tall gumball machine will also be inside, which the dad expects to be the biggest in the UK.

The pick-and-mix stand from the shut-down Folkestone Wilko store will also be at the venue, as William loved visiting to pick out treats.

Will Brown at the Folkestone Wilko pick-and-mix stand, which is now in the dessert parlour

A blue-and-white chequered floor was fitted by Darren Price, the husband of William’s teacher.

The ceiling is adorned with clouds and bright blue skies, inspired by pictures of a blue heart in a cloud which were hung in businesses’ windows after the crash.

Mr Brown still does not know who started this gesture to his son, and would like them to get in touch.

There is even a corner for William’s little sister Pearl.

The grieving father added: “This is the sort of place that he would have loved to have come to.

One corner of the shop in Folkestone has been dedicated to William's sister Pearl

William's little sister Pearl in Will Brown Jr's in Folkestone

“I'm going all out to make it an amazing place because obviously it's got my son's name on it.

“I don’t want to let him down.”

Mr Brown is planning to hold road safety awareness events at the parlour for Year 2 pupils, who will be able to come for a free ice cream, listen to a presentation and learn what happened to William.

“I want to reach out to local schools because at that age they start to think they are invincible,” he said.

“You've only got to press down on the tarmac to see how unforgiving it is and I think it's important to make them aware of that.”

The shop in Folkestone will be called Will Brown Jr's

The Folkestone dessert parlour features murals of William

He will also be offering discounts to emergency services personnel.

Mr Brown will not be working in the shop full-time but will be helping out regularly.

William was laid to rest on January 13 at The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, a place he would often go to play with his friends.

King Charles granted special permission^[2] for William to be buried at the historic graveyard which had been shut for burials since 1855.

Hundreds of mourners attended, with many lining the streets for the funeral procession through Folkestone, while 10,000 people tuned in to a live stream shared on KentOnline^[3].

Mourners watching the funeral of William Brown on a screen outside at St Mary And St Eanswythe Church, Folkestone. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Dymchurch 24 hours after the tragedy^[4] on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

His bail was set to end on March 6 but this has now been extended until June 8.

References

1. ^{^} Folkestone (www.kentonline.co.uk)
2. ^{^} King Charles granted special permission (www.kentonline.co.uk)
3. ^{^} shared on KentOnline (www.kentonline.co.uk)
4. ^{^} was arrested in Dymchurch 24 hours after the tragedy (www.kentonline.co.uk)