Born in 1848 and died in 1928; John Brown was a watchmaker and jeweller for nearly 50 years and a founder member of Ripley Town & Trade Association. He was a member of numerous local music societies. His double bass was unique with its classic carved head in place of the usual scroll. It was apparently made in about 1870 for the Paris Opera and only 6 were made, each with a different head and only one other is known to have survived which was also in England. (Details taken from a three and a half page typescript by a grand-daughter of John Brown, held at Ripley Library.)