Brian Smith
Brian was born in Liverpool on the 26 October 1943. He lived with his parents in vineyard Street, Garston.
His father worked in the nearby railway sidings. Sadly, Brian’s mother passed away when he 7 years old. He was brought up by his dad, supported by his aunts May and Alice.
Following success in the 11-Plus examination, he was educated at the Liverpool Collegiate Grammar School and at about that time joined the Scouts where he made lasting friends, meeting up for reunions in Liverpool for many years. It was through this association that he met Cicely and they were married in 1967.
Brian was generous with his time, always happy to help if called upon for assistance. In 1979, at the invitation of a good friend, joined the 1st Neston Scout Group based at the old scout hut off Parks Feld. He quickly became a warranted leader and a favourite with the boys. One of his former scouts remembers that “Brian had an enormous impact on the lives of a great many Scouts over the years. The time, effort, and love that he gave to scouting meant that we were able to go on many adventures such as trekking over snow covered mountains; to acquire many skills such as canoeing, and to play many games that would not have survived a 21st Century health and safety audit”.
He was a keen and active member of the Parkgate School caravan and camping club, and of the Parkgaters’ Walking Group.
Brian enjoyed playing various sports, in particular badminton, golf and, later in life, crown green bowling. He was secretary of the Capenhurst Bowls Club and a member of Burton & Puddington Bowls Club, where he was occasional stand-in captain of the Burtonwoods team
Brian will be sadly missed but leaves us all with many happy memories: as a proud family man, friend, colleague, or team member.
A comment made by a friend to Cicely on Brian’s passing sums him up: “I will always remember Brian not only as a good friend but one of the most helpful people I have had the pleasure to know and just an all-round good guy!”
Donations in memory of Brian may be sent to Kidney Research UK.
Jenny Morgan
Friendly Rivals
I know that I’m no wizard
Of skill upon the rink,
But bowling’s made for friendship
And that’s the way I think.
I’m happy if I win a match,
Still happy if I lose,
If only I am playing
Amongst the friends I choose.
Give me a summer evening
When work is left behind,
Where the sun is in the poplars,
The breeze is soft and kind.
I wouldn’t swap my pleasure
With princes or with kings,
Nor could they be knowing
The friendship bowling brings.
Donations in Jenny’s memory can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Maddy Hart
Maddy was a staunch conservative working till she retired for the Conservative Party and loving every moment. She was a keen sports person enjoying badminton, golf and bowls.
She joined Prenton Golf Club in 1995, playing every Thursday and Sunday as a Business Lady and eventually being part of the team playing in interclub matches. Upon retiring she became a Day Lady playing many times a week and again supporting interclub matches at all the Wirral clubs, eventually running one of the teams. She also played in the mixed completions which she loved and at many Away Days.
She joined The Hoylake Conservative Ladies Golf Society (HCLGS) in 1996, being its Captain twice, and thoroughly enjoyed all the games at different clubs in Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales, including their mini holidays.
Maddy joined the bowls club at Burton and again threw herself into this sport, helping to raise funds by running a book stall at home matches in which she participated with pleasure.
Maddy loved card games, playing for years with family and friends and joining Prenton Mixed bridge and Ladies bridge sessions, again playing for the different teams on interclub matches.
Once she retired Maddy started to volunteer for the League of Friends at Arrows Park Hospital, working in their shop every Monday from 5 till 8 pm which she was still doing until Covid caused it to close. They raised many thousands of pounds for the hospital.
Maddy will be greatly missed by all the teams she played for and all her many friends, she has left a big hole in our lives and hearts. She leaves 2 daughters Lizzie and Jean and 3 grandchildren, Ben, Emily and her dearest Tom named after her much-loved late husband Tom who will also mourn her.
Donations in memory of Maddy may be sent to Wirral Hospice St John’s or Charles Thompson Mission.
Lynn Beard
Lynn was born in Chesterfield on the 4 February 1946.
After leaving Tapton House Grammar School she went on to study for a language degree at the University of Birmingham and gained her Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Leeds.
She taught German, French and Spanish and worked at, among others, Merchant Taylors. For more than ten years she was Head of Modern Languages at The Belvedere School and after her retirement was an A-level Oral Examiner in German for WJEC.
She was a good cook and renowned for her baking and jam making. Her other interests included gardening, knitting, learning Italian, and English Country Dancing. Although not a member of the Bowls Club, Lynn was well-known to many of the members from social occasions.
Lynn cared about the environment and not being wasteful. She joined Friends of the Earth before it was fashionable. She was always recycling and finding a good home for things through eBay or at Barnado’s charity shops where she volunteered. She had a strong sense of civic duty, often volunteering in the Neston locality with litter picking as well as at Ness Gardens and Wirral Talking Newspaper. In recent times, she raised money for Macmillan. The last Macmillan coffee morning she hosted at the Beard’s house raised £825.
She met Geoff at Sheffield Intervarsity Club and they married on the 14 July 1973.
Lynn had a knack of always making friends with and talking to people. She was a woman who showed her love by deeds rarely with words, as the old adage says actions speak louder than words. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and the many students whose lives she touched over the years.
Lynn is survived by Geoff, daughters Katy and Sally, grandchildren Benjamin, Rebecca, Daniel and Lucy, her sister Denise and brother Bryan, her Aunts Peg and Diana, Cousins Joy, Neil, Garry and Chris, and nieces Rachel and Louise.
Donations in Lynn’s memory can be made to Macmillan via JustGiving.