He was managing director of the Ray Smith Group, Peterborough, until the company was overtaken by the banking crisis of 2008. He was also a freeman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen and a Freeman of the City of London.
As a Coventry boy, David Browning initially chose a career in horticulture. On moving to Peterborough, he met his future wife Jennifer, the daughter of Ray Smith, who had in 1972 established Ray Smith Demountables, which specialised in demountable body systems.
The concept, designed by TPS Design, was enthusiastically embraced by David Browning who applied his decisive planning and assembled a strong sales team that elevated Ray Smith to be a European leader in swap body systems.
He leaves his wife Jennifer and three children.
