Express & Star

Tributes paid to well-known Wolverhampton businessman and Birmingham League cricketer

A Wolverhampton businessman who became cricket's 'Mr Moseley' following more than a quarter of a century as president of the renowned Birmingham League club has died at the age of 82.

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Gordon Brindley at Edgbaston cricket ground in 2018 wearing a tie of Warwickshire County Cricket Club of which he was a member

Gordon Brindley, from Solihull, was associated with Moseley cricket for more than 65 years, as a player, committee member, treasurer and president of one of the region's most prominent amateur sporting institutions.

He was also well-known in West Midlands business circles, with leading roles as an accountant at Coopers and Lybrand in Birmingham, company secretary at Wolverhampton-based heating and air conditioning firm Andrews Group and finance director with public relations company David Cooper PR.

The father-of-three passed away on April 18 after being admitted to hospital in Solihull. A special cortege circuiting Moseley's ground will now take place on Tuesday, May 19, in his honour.

Current Moseley treasurer Ian Stokes said: "Gordon was 'Mr Moseley' to everybody at the club. He joined from Warwickshire Schoolboys as a promising spinner in 1954 and was still playing an active role as president at the time of his death.

"He had been on the committee since the 1970s and was treasurer for many years. He was a big supporter of the Birmingham League. Everything at Moseley was voluntary – Gordon and a couple of others even ran the bar.

"Everyone leaned on him for advice. He had a tremendous memory and would always come up with the answer. He was very sociable, he loved nothing better than having a pint and watching the cricket – he enjoyed real ale. In Birmingham League circles he knew everybody on the circuit."

He said that Gordon had helped oversee the club's move to its current ground in Streetsbrook Road after starting his playing career at the former ground at Moorlands. "It is a tremendous facility. We had a new ground, a new clubhouse, a bowling green."

A tribute from Moseley Cricket Club said: "Gordon served the club tirelessly having been on the committee for nearly 50 years, first as assistant treasurer and then as treasurer. His financial expertise and prudence were instrumental in developing the club from what was a field into the facility it is today."

Away from cricket, Gordon was well-known for a variety of prominent business roles, including company secretary and chief accountant at leading specialist heating and air conditioning firm, Wolverhampton-based Andrews Industrial Equipment which later became Andrews Sykes.

Company founder John Andrews, a former High Sheriff of the West Midlands and ex-regional president of the Institute of Directors, said he had "nicked" Gordon from accountants Coopers and Lybrand in 1977 after appointing the firm auditors to the Wolverhampton company.

"Gordon had great ability and charm. He was a very able and efficient guy. We were looking for somebody of his capabilities and he got on very well with our staff. I could see in Gordon someone who was highly professional in his work and behaviour but also was up for a business challenge.

"Gordon rapidly settled in and provided our relatively young company with a quality of Corporate Accounting and governance that enabled us to press on with building the group on a safe corporate foundation."

The company, which is today an international group trading as Andrews Sykes Group and retains its headquarters in Wolverhampton, prospered and grew to become a £30 million turnover firm, employing 600 people by the mid-1980s.

Former Coopers and Lybrand partner Roger Hatton, who now lives in Australia, described Gordon as his "right-hand man" during their days at the Birmingham accountancy group. "He was a true friend and colleague, loyal and honest, with a great laid-back sense of humour."

Mr Andrews added: "Gordon was the personification of reliability and commitment. I cannot ever remember him being away ill and every morning, including many Saturdays, Gordon would appear before 8am, as always with the Times newspaper in hand. He was a great asset and team member for what became Andrews Group PLC and is now Andrews Sykes Group PLC."

Gordon leaves a widow Sherley and three sons, Stuart, Adrian and partner Claire, Andrew and wife Anna, as well as grandchildren Grace and Harry.

  • The funeral and cortege at Moseley Cricket Club on May 19 will be held with appropriate social distancing, allowing mourners to pay respect in safety. Those wishing to do so should be at the ground no later than 12 noon. The ground is located off Streetsbrook Road, Shirley.