Brave Buck Chinn loses cancer battle

Football fans' champion and lifelong Aston Villa supporter Buck Chinn has lost his battle against cancer.

Buck, father of historian and Express & Star columnist Carl Chinn, died at home in Moseley, Birmingham, yesterday morning, surrounded by his family.

Carl today paid tribute to his father, who was 78 years of age.

He said: "He was proud to have been born in Sparkbrook, proud of being a Brummie and proud to be an Englishman.

"The two things that meant a lot to him was where he came from and where he belonged. He was a wonderful father, son, uncle, grandfather and friend. He lived for his family."

Buck Chinn was diagnosed with stomach cancer last October and underwent chemotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. But last week doctors discovered that he had developed a secondary brain cancer.

Carl added: "We are a strong NHS family.

"He had wonderful care from the cancer centre, the QE, his surgery, St Mary's Hospice, his pharmacies and the nurses. I'd like to thank them."

Buck was a lifelong Aston Villa fan and a bookmaker.

He set up the Aston Villa Democracy Group, following the resignation of manager Ron Saunders in 1982. Villa fans have also paid tribute to Buck, posting messages on a fans forum website. One described him as "a true gent, a great friend and a mentor".

When Ron Saunders resigned from the club there was uproar among fans because he had led the team to the First Division title — their first for decades. Buck called a meeting of protestors at the Royal Oak pub in Sparkbrook and he became chairman of the Aston Villa Democracy Group, which arose from that meeting.

The aim was to get a fan elected democratically on to the board and for the fans to have more say in the running of the club. He later became chairman of the Aston Villa Shareholders Association and he led it for more than 20 years.

The details of his funeral are to be announced soon.