Brian Barnes

Barnes
Brian Joseph
Passed away peacefully at home in Wirral on 10th April 2024
after a long illness.
Loving husband to
Gill [née Gorst],
Dad to Alison,
Catherine and Gillian,
and Poppa to grandchildren Jamie, Kate, Lisa and Leon, and four great-grandchildren.
Brian was born in Preston
on 2nd March 1934. Learnt to swim aged 11 at Saul Street Baths and swam in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 aged 19.
He was Preston's first Olympian.
He had a long career in leisure services around England, retiring as Wirral Director of Leisure Services, and then sailed around the world in a small boat.
Throughout his life he was a keen promoter of sport being accessible to all, particularly the disabled, and was invited to carry the torch for the
Paralympic Games.
Brian did not want fuss or flowers, a simple cremation only, but if anybody wishes to pay tribute donations to Claire House Wirral, a children's hospice, would
be welcome.