A FORMER international athlete admired for his determination to provide a place for children in mid Cheshire to take part in the sport he loved has died.
Brian Hall lost a long battle against cancer last Monday.
He was 73.
“We’ll miss his hugs and smiles most,” said daughter Lindsey.
“It’s become clear from the messages the family has received that dad was an inspiration to a lot of people.”
Mr Hall refused to let his illness distract him from his passion; athletics.
He is best known for his work campaigning to improve facilities at Knights Grange sports complex in Winsford, home to Vale Royal Athletics Club.
That group was born of a merger between Winsford Athletics Club, founded by him in the early 1970s, and Mid-Cheshire AC.
Lindsey added: “One of his goals was to see an improved running track in Winsford for the athletes to train on.
He was very proud to see Vale Royal AC as such a strong and thriving club despite not having a modern track like its neighbours.”
Born in Manchester in 1937, Mr Hall was a prolific cross country race winner at school where his love for the sport grew.
He represented England on the world stage in 1962 before earning a call-up to the Great Britain squad on the track the same year.
His workmates helped to pay for a ticket to Australia for him to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
Mr Hall moved to Winsford in 1972 with wife Marjorie and his two daughters Lindsey and Gillian. A third, Naomi, was born later.
After he retired, he was elected as a councillor to both Winsford Town Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.
“Brian was always the sort of councillor who made you feel at ease, a position not universally adopted by others,” said Mike Kennedy.
“More recently through his fundraising efforts and endeavours to improve the facilities at Knights Grange, I was able to see a different Brian. He was tenacious.”
Briefly chairman of the now-defunct Knights Grange User Development Association, Mr Hall continued to make the case that the council should upgrade the shale running surface there even after his illness was diagnosed.
He lived to see a six-figures sum spent by the local authority on installing first class field facilities at the outdoor complex earlier this summer.
His funeral took place at Over United Reformed Church in Winsford on Tuesday.
PEOPLE who knew, or worked with, Brian paid tribute to him this week.
“Brian was a stylish runner who competed with great tenacity, a characteristic he also demonstrated when he was involved in projects such as the one to improve athletics facilities at Knights Grange.
“He was determined in everything he did.”
John Driscoll
Vice president
Cheshire County Athletic Association
“Brian was tenacious, a battler; someone who would fight for a cause he believed in even through failing health.
“It is because of him I am involved in the work I do today.”
Mike Kennedy
Chairman
Knights Grange users’ forum
“Brian was as driven a campaigner as any journalist is likely to meet.
“But his commitment to improving kids’ opportunities to come into contact with sport was driven by a single notion; he simply loved athletics.
“A more knowledgeable fighter of their cause athletes in mid Cheshire are unlikely to find.”
Andrew Simpson
Senior Sports Writer
Mid-Cheshire Guardian series
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