Aldershot Town Football Club are sad to confirm the death of one of our Shots Foundation Trustees, Barry Hitchcock, who passed away at the age of sixty-nine on Friday 1st February. Barry had been instrumental in leading and supporting the set-up of our club`s new community scheme and has played an active role as Secretary. He was in attendance at our most recent Trustees meeting in January.
As well as his recent contributions to Aldershot Town Football Club, Barry will be widely remembered for his contribution to local and national sport at grass roots level. Barry worked at the University of Surrey from 1980 through to 2010, firstly as the Assistant Director of Sport and then as Director of Sport for nearly 20 years. Barry was the visionary behind Surrey Sports Park, which was a project he championed since the mid-1990s until its eventual realisation in 2010.
He was a significant figure in both local sport and in the higher education sporting landscape, taking on many volunteer roles throughout his career. Since his retirement in 2010 he continued his great work as a trustee within the Surrey Playing Fields Association and the England Squash Foundation.
Barry had a strong passion for supporting young people and was an external trustee of the Students’ Union at Surrey from 2011 – 2016.
Alongside Sally Edie MBE, Barry set up a pan-disability sports club for young people and their families that still runs today over 20 years since its inception. Barry was a regular volunteer at the University’s Saturday afternoon sessions until very recently.
His extensive work was recognised in 2010 when he was awarded an MBE for services to sport and higher education.
Barry has been a close friend of our club Chairman, Shahid Azeem for forty years. As well as being a renowned national Basketball coach, he also brought the National squash league to Surrey attracting the country`s top players including Shahid, whom he coached to many titles.
Barry was a trustee of our Shots Foundation and he leaves behind a legacy of sports but be will be remembered by his friends and our trustees for being a gentleman, his kindness, high ethical and moral principles, standards and being an utter professional. He also leaves behind a wonderful family, Elspeth his wife, son David, daughters Louise, Emily, Becky, his grandchildren, whom he adored, and a wide circle of friends.
Shots Foundation Chairman John Casey paid tribute to Barry. “Barry made a significant contribution to the development of world class facilities in the Surrey area and, as such, his family can be justly proud of this legacy he has left for the people in the area who will benefit for years to come. The Shots Foundation has also benefitted from his commitment, experience and wisdom and he will be greatly missed by everyone”.
There will be one-minutes applause in appreciation of Barry immediately prior to the start of this Saturday`s fixture with Eastleigh.
