A PICKERING man who was one of a wave of 'ten-bob poms' has died at the age of 68.

William Brown, who was known as Billy, left England in 1968 on a single ticket to Australia.

He travelled with friends Billy and Susan Appleby, and worked as a bricklayer and builder, constructing bungalows and houses across the former colony.

Mr Brown left school at Pickering at 15 to become an apprentice bricklayer.

He joined the Army at 21 and was in the military police, serving 18 months in Hong Kong.

After a year with West Yorkshire Police in Bradford he took the plunge and emigrated.

Mr Brown's younger sister, Rebecca Nea, said: "I asked him if he regretted leaving and he said he did a bit because he did not like the heat in the summer. He kept coming back to visit us and then going back again to his family over there, that was his life."

Mr Brown married his Australian wife Carol and they had a son, Kerrin. He had another son, Oliver, with second wife, Jeanette.

He died on May 11 after contracting Motor Neurone Disease and cremation took place in Australia on May 19.

A memorial service will be held at St Peter's and St Paul's Church, Pickering, on Wednesday, at 2.30pm.

Mr Brown leaves four sisters and two brothers.

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, May 27, 2003