Leigh Leopards were honoured to participate in a special function to remember Brian Bowman, the much respected and popular former club Life President and ex-Chairman and Director.

Brian, who died just over a year ago at the age of 89, was resident at High Peak Lodge Residential & Nursing Home, Bedford Square when he passed away and staff at the home wished to make a lasting memory of his time there.

Many people and organisations donated time, expertise, money and items to a beautifully decorated and furnished room which has been named Brian’s Den, and which will benefit all the home’s residents.

• These included Pam Gilligan and her staff at Compassion in Action, Leopards’ owner Derek Beaumont, Chairman Mike Latham and members of Leigh Past Players’ Association.
• Richard Causey (Jordan Timber, Lowton), Leon Bellis (ELB Fireplaces) Mark Holland (Aspire Fencing), Paul Crook, Alan Hadcroft, Phil Johnson and Alan Berghan.
• Together with many staff at the home including manager Que Moyo, and staff Tammy, Cara, Tara, Emma and Peter.

Several members of Leigh Past Players Association attended the lunchtime event and Allan Rowley, Colin Clarke, Joe Wood and former long serving club secretary John Stringer had the honour of cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening of Brian’s Den.

At a small function afterwards Chairman Mike Latham invited Allan, Colin, John, Jason Donohue, Colin Tyrer, life member Fred Parkinson, Joe Wood, Kath and Keith Stott and Ray and Annette Unsworth to speak of their memories of Brian and Que thanked all the staff and those who donated for their efforts in making Brian’s Den such a special place.

• Allan Rowley: “The best chairman I ever played for. He sold me to Workington, but I didn’t want to go, and he didn’t want to sell me. We had a meeting upstairs, me and him and he said, ‘Allan if you really don’t want to go you don’t need to go, but we really do need the money’ and eventually I went. But we both in tears and that’s the kind of bloke he was.”
• John Stringer: “My memories are special. He was a great bloke. We used to come here two or three times a week to visit him. As a person or chairman, he was a super guy, the best chairman I worked for.”
• Colin Clarke: “Brian was a perfect gentleman even after I left Leigh we had a great rapport and friendship.”
• Annette Unsworth: “He was like my grandad. He looked after me, and my mum and dad knew him really well. My dad (ex-player Brian Brooks) loved him as did my mum who washed all the kit.”
• Kath Stott: “Just a great man, great company and a great person to get drunk with.”
• Fred Parkinson: “My (late) son Andrew thought of Brian and Marion as extra grandparents. He was a lovely fellow; they were a lovely couple.”
• Joe Wood: “He’d have loved beating Wigan. He was such a proud Leyther. He loved the Leigh town, the Leigh team and the Leigh players. He was lovely, generous man.“
• Que Moyo: “I knew Brian prior to him coming to the care home, as I had nursed his wife Marion. He was a very lovely person. We showed him our love and care. He was one of our special residents and I’m grateful to the staff for looking after him so well.”

With a stunning media wall and a framed Leigh jersey with illuminated sign as the centrepiece, the lovingly decorated and furnished room also features many photographs of Brian and his beloved late wife Marion, together with some of Leigh’s greatest days. Brian was chairman when Leigh won the Lancashire Cup and then the first division title in 1981-82 season, one of the proudest moments of his distinguished life.

Emma Hurst, one of the nurses who looked after Brian at the home, sang several beautiful songs and Nicola Nugent baked a leopard themed cake and buns as part of a fine buffet.

Brian Bowman. Forever in our Thoughts.