Brian, who passed away on 13th February 2019, was born in London, later living in East Grinstead.
His childhood was marred by the death of his mother at the local cinema, when, during the Second World War, a bomb hit the cinema killing his mum instantly. Boarding school ensued and then a training position with Humphries & Glasgow qualifying as a chemical engineer.
After National Service in the R.E.M.E. work commitments saw Brian move to the North of England, marrying Ann, having two children, Richard and Rachel, and then a period working in Holland and Germany until he settled in Timperley.
Brian was passionate about cars, building his own TVR Sports Tourer (he continued to repair cars and you would always find him under the bonnet. The garage was an Aladdin’s cave full of car parts and rubbish!)
His other passion was sport. Brian played football regularly for his local team and was a long time supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. He played cricket for a team in Sidcup, Kent in his younger days. It was in the early 1970s that Brian joined Hale Barns and every weekend in the summer was spent at the club. His children tended not to watch as their Dad was always out for a duck. Brian’s forte was bowling medium pace with a lively and springy run up. He excelled at fielding and had a very safe pair of hands, no doubt as a result of carefully handling delicate car parts in his garage. Richard, his son, also had a period of playing for the club.
Brian was nicknamed “Rock Savage” by Alfie Heywood and some of the other cricketers – his family never found out the reason for that. He looked forward to the summer and cricket and the socialising at the club. For some seasons he was an active member of the Bar and Social Committees.
The early season cheese & wine and other social events were always attended by Brian and his family and that continued, even after his children moved away.
Brian, in more recent times, joined the Ground Committee and helped Roger Strong mow the outfield and the square and was a fully paid up member of ‘Critics Corner’, where the likes of Norman Brierley, Alan Walton, George Midd and Mike & John Eardley would watch weekend games with the benefit of a thousand years cricket experience.
Brian and Ann remained Lifetime Social Members and the ground held many happy memories for him and his family. Brian was unassuming and a true gentleman who will leave a void in his family’s hearts.
HBCC sends its condolences to Ann, Richard and Rachel and his many friends inside and outside the club.
John Petch – Club President
With grateful thanks to Rachel Nicholls (Brian’s daughter)