Community stalwart from Crowle will be sorely missed

A community has paid its respects to a well known character in Crowle who has died at the age of 80.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2015, 16:20 BST
Brian Hastings is in the middle of Curtis Magee well known Irish singer ,and supporting artist Bev Rooker he booked for Crowle Community Hall.Brian Hastings is in the middle of Curtis Magee well known Irish singer ,and supporting artist Bev Rooker he booked for Crowle Community Hall.
Brian Hastings is in the middle of Curtis Magee well known Irish singer ,and supporting artist Bev Rooker he booked for Crowle Community Hall.

Brian Hastings, of Wharfe Road in Ealand, died on February 17. He had suffered for a long time with Parkinson’s Disease.

Sandra Savage, who had become a close friend along with her family in the final years of his life, said: “Brian did a lot for the community. He helped to find a site for Crowle Community Hall and was involved in a lot of what they did. He was a mine of information and both me and my husband Mick and son Christopher helped to look after him and had some great times and many laughs with him.”

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Dot Smith, who took over bookings for Crowle Community Hall along with her husband John when Brian became ill, added: “Brian did a lot for the hall. He not only found this site in Woodland Avenue he also helped with many of the hall’s activities. He will be missed by us all.”

Former Crowle Town Councillor Brian Hastings being presented with a clock in recognition of his 41 years service on the council back in 2013  (from left) Mayor Mel Bailey, Brian Hastings, Harold Osbourne, Brian Duffield, Nick Culpin, Norman Arrand.Former Crowle Town Councillor Brian Hastings being presented with a clock in recognition of his 41 years service on the council back in 2013  (from left) Mayor Mel Bailey, Brian Hastings, Harold Osbourne, Brian Duffield, Nick Culpin, Norman Arrand.
Former Crowle Town Councillor Brian Hastings being presented with a clock in recognition of his 41 years service on the council back in 2013  (from left) Mayor Mel Bailey, Brian Hastings, Harold Osbourne, Brian Duffield, Nick Culpin, Norman Arrand.

After his national service in the RAF from 1952-54 Brian became a temporary teacher at Stourton by Stowe in Lincolnshire in 1955. He became a teacher at West Park School in Leeds from 1957-61, taught at Parkside School in Leeds from 1962-65 and North Axholme School from 1965-85 – from where he retired. He met and married his wife Elizabeth in April 1965.

In 1986 he found a job in the transport industry until 1998, which reflected his lifelong interest in trains and many other forms of transport. In between times he managed to juggle a busy career while serving as a JP from 1972-2004.

He was elected to Crowle Parish Council in 1966 where he was also mayor and was appointed honorary secretary of Crowle Community Hall in 1969.

His funeral will be held today at Scunthorpe Crematorium at 11.20am, followed by a service at St Oswald’s Church in Crowle at 12.30pm and a wake at Crowle Community Hall at 1.30pm.