John Bird
19th June 1923 – 21st January 2021
As we re-open our doors following
the third COVID lockdown, it is with great sadness that we report the passing
of Mr John Bird, a long-standing member of The Brunswick Club Management
Committee.
John was Fulham born and bred, a
World War II veteran whose 65-year association with The Brunswick Club began in
1955 when he joined as a PT and Games Instructor. He will be best remembered for his single-handed
running of the Club’s summer football tournament for over 35 years, arranging
and refereeing all fixtures, and hand-writing the league tables at the end of
every day. It became the biggest
football tournament in the West London area and there would not have been many
young footballers in Fulham who did not take part through the years.
He joined the Club’s Management
Committee in the early 1990s and was still an active member up until the day he
died. His dedication did not go
unnoticed. In the 1980s he received a
merit award for his commitment to the young people of Fulham from the
Association of Combined Youth Clubs, presented to him by HRH Princess Anne, and
on his 90th birthday, which he celebrated at The Brunswick Club, he
was deeply moved to receive a letter from HRH Prince Philip commending him for
his loyalty and service.
John’s other passions were his
lifelong love of Fulham Football Club and home cinema. As a Fulham supporter, John rarely missed a
match, home or away. He was a season ticket holder at Craven Cottage and a
steward on coaches travelling to away games. He even travelled by coach to
Hamburg at the age of 87 for the Europa Cup Final (which Fulham sadly lost to
Atletico Madrid in extra time).
As a home cinema addict, John was forever
filming holidays, family gatherings, and other important occasions and showing
them back at family events. In the 1980s,
he started showing classic films in sheltered and residential care homes. This became something of a long-term
occupation, with John showing upwards of 70 films every winter, something he
continued to do into his early 90s.
In everything that he did, John Bird
was a true gentleman, kind and caring to everyone he met. His energy, enthusiasm, and sheer dogged
determination to continue doing what he enjoyed well into his later years
should be an inspiration to us all. God
bless you Mr Bird, you are a true Brunswick legend!!! Thank You.
