Man of the people loses cancer battle

Brian Marshall (74), who served as a Labour councillor in Forest Town for nearly 20 years, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, having lost his battle with bowel cancer.

His son, Les Marshall (52), said: “People forget when my father first came to this area there were no facilities for young people.

“He ran youth clubs and helped get Newlands Community Centre off the ground.

“He was a good bloke - some people did not get on with him but he did a lot for the community - he even ran Clipstone Lido for a couple of years.”

Mr Marshall lived on Birch Tree Close, and then Garibaldi Road for the remainder of his life after moving to the area from his native South Shields, Tyne and Wear, with his wife Dorothy in 1961.

As a miner at Rufford Colliery, then at Thoresby and Clipstone, the father-of-three was well-known for his work as secretary of the Clipstone branch of the National Union of Mineworkers and later as president of the Clipstone branch of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers.

Mr Marshall was chairman of Mansfield District Council between 1981-2 - during which time he attended no less than 300 functions on behalf of the council.

He also stood against Sir Alan Meale as a candidate for Mansfield MP in the 1987 general election.

Mr Marshall’s service for Mansfield District Council ceased after the controversial union split during the miners’ strike.

After being made redundant from Clipstone Colliery in 1989 he concentrated on enjoying his grandchildren and his garden, though he did stand as a Conservative candidate at county level.

The keen gardener and community champion is also survived by his wife, Dorothy, daughter, Sandra, and son, Paul.