Last Friday 11th April 2025, Brian Ward passed away. Some club members have sent in their memories:
Ranald Macdonald writes:
DVO members and friends will be saddened to hear that Brian died peacefully on Friday 11 April. He had been in Valley Lodge Care Home, Darley Dale for some time, having lived previously in St Elphins Park, after moving there from Crich a number of years ago. We remember the sprint event around the park after Brian and Pauline mapped it.
Brian and Pauline were active members of DVO as Controllers and mappers, as well as helping on registration, having joined us from Mole Valley Orienteering Club in 2000.
Our thoughts are with Pauline and the rest of Brian’s family and friends.
John Hurley writes:
When DVO first won the CompassSport Cup in 1986, in the final we competed against a Mole Valley team which included Brian, Pauline, Martin and Angela Ward. Brian didn’t score points in his own right but he did beat the last DVO counter (Paul Knowles) on his course.
After joining DVO Brian soon became involved as an event official, controlling the (closed) Police Championships at Crich in 2002. In April 2003 Brian and Pauline were the organisers of the Midlands Championships at Chatsworth. Brian then controlled regional events at Shining Cliff, Crich, Linacre and Riber Hillside.
Ann-Marie Duckworth writes:
I thought I would record a memory I have of a person who was slowed by his failing body but still mentally eager to try new ideas. I did not realise how experienced Brian was at orienteering and his ability to see the potential for a new area for a local event if only he could get the immediate grounds of the St Elphin’s retirement village, where he lived, mapped during Covid lockdown!
That’s when I got to know him and Pauline a bit better – I was sent all kinds of base maps that Brian had collected from the Estate owners and his own deeds to their flat, to draw an O map (my first). Being on site he diligently checked my drafts and sent back by post, the corrections. The result was a map he used to plan 3 courses that were enjoyed by about 50 runners on a warm September 2021 Saturday.
I only had a brief moment with Brian but I am sure there are many in DVO and other O Clubs, who would like to send their condolences to Pauline, Angela and Martin.
