REDDITCH Lions and the Studley community have been left stunned by the sudden death of Brian Rich.
Brian, a past president of the Lions and an active member of the Arden Foodbank in Studley, passed away last Monday, November 18, aged 73. His wife Jill was by his side.
“He’d just come in from putting the bins out, said ‘well that’s all my jobs done’ sat down and then said he didn’t feel very well,” said Jill.
Ambulances were called but there was nothing the medical team could do to save him.
Both Brian and Jill grew up in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Brian working for turbine giants CA Parsons as an electrical engineer and completing his BSc at Imperial College, London.
Whilst at Durham University studying for an MSc in management he got hooked on computers, took voluntary redundancy from Parsons and became a systems analyst working for a number of companies including Parker Knoll and Allied Breweries in Burton, before settling in Studley with Istel.
Originally a member of Studley Lions he migrated to Redditch Lions becoming a key member of the team publicising all their events and running their website.
“He was a big guy and a big-hearted guy too who did a tremendous amount of work for the Lions, so much so he was also a member of our district cabinet,” said Lions President Mike Andrews.
“He is irreplaceable and will be sorely missed.”
Brian leaves his wife Jill, three children and eight grandchildren.
Happier times: Brian Rich, second right, with fellow Lions Dave Beech, Mike Andrews, and Wendy Pettifer raising money for Children in Need.
