Death of Alan Sharp

We are very sorry to have to report the death of Alan Sharp, aged 88, at the end of November. His funeral was held on 20 December 2023.

Alan was a founder member of our local history group and actively involved with it. Many will have known him as a teacher at Brimington Boys’ and Westwood secondary schools. He was a keen sportsman and lover of the outdoors and family man, but we will remember him for his deep interest in local history and his wise counsel.

Alan was Brimington born and bred. His secondary education was at Chesterfield Grammar School, he then went on to teacher training at Sheffield from 1956-58. He commenced teaching in 1958 at Shirebrook, then at Brimington County Secondary Boys’ School and latterly Westwood School. Alan taught a number of subjects including physical education, English and history.

Having a love of nature, the countryside, its history and the outdoors resulted in Alan being a keen member of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He served in the Royal Signals during his National Service which he undertook in 1953-55 at Berlin.

Alan will also be remembered as one of the instigators of the campaign to restore the Brimington bowling green, off Broom Gardens. It had been disused for many years, but was restored and reopened in 1977.

Alan was one of the original group of people who efforts helped to form our local history group. He contributed articles to our yearly journal (Brimington and Tapton Miscellany) and helped with its production right up until our most recent edition in September – he had proof read every edition. Alan could always be relied on to give advice and to help in practical ways.

His funeral was held on 20 December at Brimington Common Methodist Church with committal afterwards at Brimington Crematorium. It was fitting that the entry and exit music was a piece by the village’s own hymn-tune writer and Methodist Thomas Wallhead – the aptly named ‘Brimington’. Alan had been a life-long Methodist, proud of and loved the community in which he lived.

At the Crematorium a guard of honour was provided by members of the sadly now disbanded local Royal Signals veterans’ group – of which Alan had been a proud member.

Alan will certainly be missed by our group and many others. Our sincere condolences to his wife, his family and friends at this sad time.

Alan’s Derbyshire Times obituary can be found by clicking here.

First published 14 December 2023, revised 20 December 2023.