Club chair Steven Millington writes:
It is with regret that we have to inform you of the passing of a true legend of Halesowen A & CC, Charles “Charlie” Gains, who passed away on Monday 2nd May 2022.
Charles was born in Liverpool in 1933, and like so many of his generation the war interrupted his early schooling, yet Charlie passed his 11 plus and won a scholarship to the Liverpool Institute.
At the age of 16 he joined his local athletics club, Pembroke Harriers and it was with this club that Charlie fell in love with the sport of athletics and in particular, cross country running.
On completion of his National Service, Charlie moved to the Midlands to enrol on a training programme at the Teacher Training College in Dudley.
After qualifying as a Primary and Geography teacher, Charlie rekindled his love of athletics joining our club, Halesowen A & CC in the late 1950’s.
He was instrumental in the development of Halesowen A & CC as a club, volunteering whenever possible.
He had a vision for athletics which was based around club athletics and the benefits regular activity could bring to the local population.
In the mid 1980s, Charlie returned to his city of birth, but not before he had been awarded the honour of Life Member of Halesowen A & CC for his contribution to the club.
Charlie maintained a keen interest in the activities of Halesowen, producing in depth articles about the life of our founder, Jack Price and recently attending the Centenary Dinner the club held on the 5th March.
His contribution to the sport of athletics is immeasurable and he will be sorely missed.
The funeral will take place at 10am on Friday 20th May, at West Lancashire Cemetery & Crematorium, Pippin St, Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 7SP.
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