SCORES of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to well-known town sporting enthusiast Brian Hetherington.

Mr Hetherington, an executive member of Bromsgrove District Sports Council and a member of Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletic Club for 18 years, died on Friday November 23 after losing his battle against cancer.

Last Friday, November 30, Redditch Crematorium was full to capacity as friends, family and colleagues said their goodbyes to the 53-year-old who was born and bred in Bromsgrove.

The father-of-two was sports council vice chairman for many years and helped to organise the Worcestershire Games and Bromsgrove Sports Councils' Awards evenings.

The former Watt Close School pupil had a keen interest in all sports, particularly football, rugby and athletics, and in this youth played football for Austin FC, Dog and Pheasant FC and Ring Spanners FC where he earned the nickname "Flipper" because he never swore on the pitch, only saying "flipping heck."

He also played for Bromsgrove Rugby Club.

In 1983, he joined Bromsgrove and Redditch Athletic Club and represented them in the Midlands Men's League and for the last 13 years the veteran section of the club.

He was a field athlete and excelled at the hammer, discus and javelin. He also held club records for the hammer and relay.

He combined competing with coaching and was still training young athletes twice a week shortly before his death.

Sports council chairman Athol Deakin said: "Brian's contribution to the council was considerable, ever willing to accept responsibility and give of his limited free.

"He will be sadly missed by myself, the sports council, his club and indeed all sporting enthusiasts throughout the district."

He leaves a wife Judy, and daughters Sally and Sharon.