[FLYING BANANA]

June Brown, much loved for her role as Dot Cotton in Eastenders for over three decades, passed away peacefully on Sunday aged 95. What you may not know is that June’s connection to the military goes back even further than her connection to Albert Square.

Born 16th February 1927, June was evacuated to Wales during World War Two and later joined The Women's Royal Naval Service nicknamed ‘The Wrens’. From 1944-46, she worked as a cine-op Wren, projecting instructional videos on how to survive at sea and was one of around 100,000 women placed in similar roles to free up men for the fleet. It was during her time with the Navy that June discovered her love of film and acting.

Wren’s paved the way for women in the modern Navy and June recalled this time of her life for a BBC series ‘Women at War: 100 Years of Service’ where she drove a naval vessel for the first time.

Shortly after her service at 23 years of age, June married her first Husband John Garley.

John suffered with depression and in 1957 he took his own life. June explained 'I walked into the bedroom and there was Johnny, lying on the bed, the gas fire propped up next to him. Suicide was still a criminal offence in the late-Fifties. I’d got him breathing again but he lasted three days in hospital before dying on May 8.'

RIP June Brown. War-time Wren. Suicide Survivor. Television Legend.