A former director of Telford’s football club and a town councillor has died at the age of 84. Bernard Bagnall, of Holyhead Road, Wellington, had been suffering from a chest infection.
He died peacefully at the Princess Royal Hospital on Saturday night.
His wife Vanessa today paid tribute to her husband as a “lovely man” who would be sadly missed.
Mr Bagnall had been involved for many years with Telford United Football Club and was a director in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was one of the top non-league sides and before its eventual demise in 2004.
The Wellingtonian first attended the club’s Bucks Head ground in 1935 and was a very enthusiastic supporter.
The father-of-two, who had four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, went into the Navy when he was about 18 and served in the convoy signals until after the war, travelling across Europe, including Malta, during his service.
He then worked at the National Coal Board and for 30 years was the proprietor of Wrekin Service Station in Wellington before he retired.
Mr Bagnall, who had been on the Shropshire FA, was also involved in the second Wellington Scouts.
Mrs Bagnall said football “was his life”, adding: “He was part of Wellington. He was a councillor in Wellington and joined in everything he could over the years. Everybody knew him.”
Funeral details have not yet been arranged.
Mike Ferriday, former club secretary at Telford United, said: “Bernard was a very active, likeable guy who liked to be involved in various aspects of the local community.”
One Comment
Bernard was a real star. He had a very dry sense of humour. The regulars who used to drink in the Falcon with Bernard will mourn the passing of a real gentleman.