💖 About BeccaFest 🌟
BeccaFest was created to celebrate the remarkable life of Dr. Rebecca Jane Brown and to bring together all those who knew and loved her on the first anniversary of her passing.
13th September is a time to reflect and honour an extraordinary woman—driven, adventurous, always up for a cheeky prosecco, and known for a smile that could light up any room.
So let’s smile like Becca, and raise a glass in memory of someone who meant so much to us all.
If you wish to donate to the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, a charity close to Becca’s heart, you can via our GoFundMe page,
use the QR codes which will be arounfd the venue on the day
or drop your cash into the buckets provided.
💖The Remarkable
Becca Brown🌟
BeccaFest is intended to be a celebration of Becca, a place where family and friends can all come together on the year anniversary of Becca’s passing. The intention is for us all be together, to share memories, to laugh and to cry and we couldn’t think of a better way to do that than through music, food and drink.
A year on, we cannot escape the reality that Becca’s life was cut far, far too short and that is difficult to come to terms with. She had qualified as a doctor and was in the middle of her F2 at Poole Hospital in Dorset. We have heard from those that worked with her that she changed so many lives in the short time she worked there and we believe she could have done so much good in this world. Becca truly is loved and will be missed enormously.
Rebecca Jane Brown was born on June 2nd 1994 in Welwyn Garden City. She is only 19 months younger than Matthew and the second of three children of Martin and Monica. A ‘brown eyed girl’ from the day she was born. When Becca was 18 months old, the Brown family moved to Sacramento, California after a quick 3-month pit stop in Nashville, Tennessee. Becca and Matthew attended Sierra Oaks and Our Lady of the Assumption schools. Where we made some lifelong friends.
In 1998 during our last year in California, Sophie was born. Becca finally got the sister she craved after years of torment from her big brother.
The Brown family moved back to England in 1999 after 4 years spent in California. We attended Holy Family school in Welwyn Garden City and were happy to be reunited with our large and loud family.
During a family holiday to California in the summer of 2002. Martin had an itch to scratch, borrowed a suit as the swimming trunks wouldn’t do and went on a secret interview. 6 months later, in early 2003 the Brown family moved back to Sacramento, California to be reunited with the sunshine and many old friends. All 3 of the Brown children re-attended Our Lady of the Assumption school. We had the most incredible childhood. Summers were spent in the swimming pool, on the beach in Los Angeles and at Disneyland. Winters were spent skiing in Lake Tahoe.
In 2007, after another 4 years, the Browns once again returned to the UK. This time for good. We returned to the same house in Welwyn we had grown up in and the three of us attended John Henry Newman School in Stevenage. Sophie and Matthew quickly adapted, by losing our American accents. However, Becca clung onto hers for a bit longer, particularly when she had a drink.
After finishing her A Levels, Becca went off to Whistler, Canada for a ski season teaching 3 - 4 years olds how to ski. Becca was so devoted that even her friends admitted they would offload their kids with her when they had heavy hangovers.
Following her ski season, Becca attended Liverpool University to study Biomedical Sciences.
Apart from skiing, another one of Becca’s great passions was volleyball. During her school years, both Becca and Sophie dragged mum and dad up and down the country playing for their regional team, East of England. Becca was even called up to train with the England team. At Liverpool, Becca was awarded sports captain of the year as she grew the volleyball club from 1 team to 4 teams during her time there.
In 2017, after graduating with a First from Liverpool, Becca started Bart’s Medical School in London and moved back home to Welwyn with mum and dad, to their delight.
During her summers Becca worked as a children’s nanny at a Neilson Resort in Vassiliki, Greece. It was during one of these summers, in 2019, that Becca met Henry, who was working as a water sports instructor. During the wonderful, but all to short years Becca and Henry spent together, they made many happy memories in special places. Further memories were created together and with their families in Welwyn, Cornwall, Skiing in France, Abu Dhabi and many other destinations. One that particularly stands out was a 2 week break to Greece where after missing several flights they then returned home 7 weeks later. It was always their intention to continue their passion for travelling.
In 2022, after 9 years of University, Becca achieved her lifelong ambition, and qualified as a medical doctor. Becca’s determination never wavered in the pursuit of her dream. On the warmest day ever recorded in London, all the family donned their ties and proudly watched her graduate at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Becca and Henry moved into our family holiday house in Poole and she started her F1 in August 2022. Becca absolutely loved working in Poole, it truly was “work hard, play hard.” She was following her dreams of practicing medicine whilst also able to enjoy her days off on the beach.
In June 2023, Becca had surgery to remove a 14cm ovarian cyst and one of her ovaries. In February 2024, Becca was diagnosed with Stage 4b ovarian cancer. She courageously battled 8 rounds of chemotherapy and numerous procedures without any complaint. This August, Becca was admitted to hospital and sadly passed away on September 13th 2024. The only solace we can take is that since her diagnosis Becca was not once left on her own. She passed away peacefully in our mother’s arms and was surrounded by family. Despite the pain she was in, right up to the day she passed, Becca continued to be Becca with her trademark beautiful smile and politeness.
Becca always dreamed of becoming a doctor, from a very young age. So, to see her qualify as a doctor, after years of hard work and dedication, was one of the proudest moments of our lives—and we know it was for her, too. She was more than just a brilliant doctor, though. She was the most compassionate and selfless person we have ever met. She truly cared about people. Whether it was comforting a patient in need, or simply being there for family and friends, her empathy and kindness knew no bounds. She gave so much of herself to others, and that spirit of giving is something that will forever be a part of her legacy.
Becca’s smile, laugh and love for life was infectious. She had the kind of smile that could light up an entire room, and she carried that brightness with her wherever she went. She had the unique combination of intelligence, beauty and wit. Becca was always up for a laugh and was the life and soul of a party. Some of our fondest memories are our family games nights where we would all be rolling on the floor with laughter. Opinions vary on who was the loudest, but the broad consensus is a split decision between either Becca or Matthew.
Even though her time here was short, she accomplished so much and touched so many lives. And though it is impossible to fill the space she has left behind; we are comforted knowing that her impact will continue through the lives she helped and the people she loved.
Today, let us not dwell on the sadness of her passing, but rather celebrate the incredible, vibrant person she is. She may no longer be physically with us, but her memory will continue to inspire us, to guide us, and to remind us of the beauty of a life lived with love and compassion. Becca, you were a gift to all who knew you, and you will be forever missed, but never forgotten.
If we may leave you with some final words to live by. In the obituary written by one of Becca’s colleagues and circulated to the rest of the staff in Poole. They said “in honour of Becca, let us carry her kindness with us today and if you can, be a little bit more Becca.”