THE former chairman of Malvern Town football club Geoff Brewer has died, aged 75.

Geoffrey Brewer was born in February 1940 in Bosbury Road, Malvern Link, a younger brother to Terry and later older brother to sister Lynette.

A life-long football fan, he played for the Army Cadets, Malvern Link FC and Malvern Town Reserves, but it was as a supporter of grass-roots football that Mr Brewer excelled.

At the age of 15, Mr Brewer started work at Morgan Motor Company as an apprentice sheet metal worker. He later became foreman of the sheet metal department.

Mr Brewer was to spend his working life at the famous factory, retiring from Morgans in 2005 having completed 50 years of service.

“I can tell you that on his last journey from Worcestershire Royal Hospital to home, the last time he left the house as it turned out, he was still spotting Morgan cars as we travelled home,” recalled his son Jason.

“He always did that wherever we were and he did it until the end. The cars provided an enormous sense of pride in him.”

At Morgans, Mr Brewer found himself part of a thriving community - something which was very dear to him.

His funeral at Christ Church, Malvern, was packed. Among the mourners were many from the factory including Charles Morgan.

In September 1965, Mr Brewer married the ‘love of his life’ Maureen and the couple went on to bring up their two sons Russell and Jason in Elgar Avenue and Clare Road surrounded by friends and neighbours from Morgans.

“It provided us with a really old fashioned, safe environment for children to flourish,” said Jason.

“There were organised day trips, holidays were taken en masse and children were allowed to be children.”

Football continued to be a huge part of Mr Brewer’s life and he became increasingly involved with Malvern Town Football Club.

He held various roles on the committee, but it was the position of chairman that he held in the late 1980s until mid-1990s (no one is sure of the precise dates) that was the source of most pride.

Having invested so much in the club himself, Mr Brewer continued to take a keen interest in it right up until his death, and his final year was buoyed by news of the club’s new ownership.

“The recent upturn in events at the club with new ownership and investment in facilities and local talent, gave Dad a real cause for optimism,” said Jason.

“The stalwarts of the club finally getting some reward for keeping the club afloat in the most difficult of circumstances.

“He will rest soundly knowing that the future of the club is in safe hands.”

What few people will know is that Mr Brewer had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since his mid-40s. It was a condition that caused him acute pain in his joints but that he bore with no complaint.

He faced his final battle with the same courage and just weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Mr Brewer died peacefully at home surrounded by his beloved family.

As well as husband to Maureen and father to Russell and Jason, Mr Brewer was a doting grandfather to Ashlea and Sophie.