Funeral News: Brian Hill & Peter Denton

CCFPA and the Sky Blue family have been greatly saddened at the loss in recent days of two players (both valued Association members) from the era of former Sky Blue management icon Jimmy Hill.

Brian in the late 1950s

The first, Bedworth-born Coventry City legend Brian Hill, joined CCFC as an apprentice in the Football League’s basement in the late 50s before the JH era began. However, he rode the Sky Blue Express under JH all the way to Division One and made 284 apearances for the club in total. At 16 years and 273 days, Hill played and scored in a 3-2 defeat at Gillingham, on the final day of the season on April 30th 1958 so becoming the Sky Blues’ then youngest ever debutant and all time youngest first team goalscorer.

Sky Blue Brian

Brian passed away aged 75 on 26th October and his funeral arrangements have now been announced.  The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 15th 2016 at All Saints Church, Bedworth. The service begins there at 10.15am before finally saying farewell to Brian at Nuneaton Crematorium at 11.15am. The service will be followed by a wake at Alties (formerly the Queen’s Head) in Newtown Road. No doubt many Sky Blue fans will wish to pay thie respects as we are sure will be many Association members who were friends and colleagues of Brian. All are welcome and flowers will be accepted. CCFPA will be sending a wreath.

Peter Denton

Former Sky Blue winger Peter Denton who died earlier last month (October 7th) also joined CCFC as a youngster in 1964 and played with Brian several times in the mid sixties before moving to Luton Town in 1968. The Association were well represented at Peter’s funeral which took place on Friday 28th October at 11.15 at Luton Crematorium followed by a wake at the Jolly Topers in Round Green.

Committee member Frank Pritchard reports,

“More than a hundred friends and family attended Hitchen Crematorium for the service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Peter Robert Denton last Friday. Lay Minister and Anglican Reader Sandra Riley paid tribute to the family man who loved football and referred on several occasions to his love of Coventry City and how much Peter enjoyed meeting up with his former colleagues on CCFPA annual Legends Days. She also read a very moving tribute from one of his daughters, Carla and our thoughts are very much with his wife Margaret and his other daughters Andrea & Laura and all his family at this very sad time”

Peter’s family had previously told CCFPA chairman Jim Brown, “He loved his football as you know and loved going to Coventry of which was his fondest memories of football”.