Page 32 - Summer2016Gazette

32 Obituary
Continued

baked by Brenda. You felt quite As they both became house- Wilson swimming race. The
deprived if you found that they bound they were delighted Blackheath Harriers Social Club
had sold out and you hadn’t had to receive visits from Club was formed in 1973 and this was
a piece. members and these were chaired by Brenda. Ladies com-
Club committee meetings with always happy occasions. The peted in their table tennis team
Alan in attendance were quite a owner of the garage around using the Blackheath Harriers
lesson. He was never rattled and the corner from whom they name. With barn dances, raf-
never lost his rag. His contri- bought all their cars visited one fles, jumble sales and tombolas
butions were always measured, day bringing lots of photos. He the Social Club, including the
thoughtful and intelligent. A had been one of Alan’s pupils likes of Maggie Haines, raised
great man with great knowledge and had been away on a School an awful lot of money that
and great judgement. trip abroad with both Alan enabled much needed work to
20 or so years ago, Club Din- and Brenda. When Graham be done in the Clubhouse and
at the Track. Brenda’s reward
Botley made his farewell tour,
ners were more frequent and he one of his demands was to be was being made an Honorary
and Brenda sat with others of taken to visit Alan and Brenda. Life Member and later a Vice
their age group. Brenda ran the Another very special and happy President.
raffles bringing her ‘old bag’ occasion. On one occasion Alan
which was eventually replaced was asked whether he would be They both gave great encour-
by a ‘new old bag’. At one of going to the Club photo shoot. agement to Youth and the Club
these dinners he was ambushed He hadn’t realized it was taking History records that “many can
so we could properly celebrate place. Denis Lawrie and Steve testify to their encouragement
his 80th birthday. Peter Lovell Hollingdale did the honours so of youth, not only officially
provided some fine artwork Alan featured in the 2012 Club or on coaching courses, but
and Alan, giving an impromptu photo. morally and always cheerfully”.
speech, gave younger mem- He was a very special man, they
bers the benefit of his advice: When he could no longer run, were a very special couple. Not
“retire early and hammer the he swam. Often with PP Vic sure we will ever see the likes of
pension fund”! His 90th was a Beardon. Just a couple of days them again!
very special Club occasion with after his 80th, Alan celebrated
a full house greatly enjoying by competing in the Maryon Mike Martineau
some fabulous tributes to a very
special man. Brenda also made
it upstairs for the first time in
years. The ECCA President was
there and Alan was showered
with gifts and praise. Mike Peel
took a brilliant photo of Alan
and Brenda, printed it, framed
it and presented it to them that
very same evening. It was a
proud possession in their home.

The ‘Middle Distance Engine Room’ – Niamh Bridson-Hubbard and
Jess Keene (see report Back in Brno page 18).