Adrian's funeral was held on Wednesday and the church and church hall were full and crowds of people lined Bigby and Wrawby streets for the service of commemoration.

Gibb was a much loved and respected teacher of Sport at Sir John Nelthorpe School in the town, a school he attended himself when it was then Brigg Grammar School. His love of the sport of football is well known and he continued playing right up to the week before his sudden death at home. In fact, he was refereeing a game at school the previous evening.

He was truly respected by all the children he taught, many of whom saw him as a role model to continue playing the game after leaving the school. Gibb played for Brigg Town F.C in the 1980's, after also represented a successful Barton Town, and was a member of the Town team which started to have success in the newly formed Northern Counties (East) League. His friendship with his fellow team mates from that era remained life long and included John Wilkinson, Raz Clayton, Baz Shrimpton, Andy Crellin, Dave Topliss, Andy Proctor,Gary Yule, who were in attendance on Wednesday. There are many fond memories of his playing days, not just because of his skill on the park but also because his humour and sense of fair play, so missing in much of today's encounters. On away trips, he was invariably the last person back on board because he would have disappeared to find refreshment for the boys on the journey back home. He scored many notable goals from the club, even though a proportion of these just saw the ball bounce off him. Looking up an old match programme for 1985/86 season, I noted that in the Linc's Senior "A" cup against a highly rated Stamford A.F.C. he scored an equalising goal and then helped to lay on a winner for Baz Shrimpton. The following week, he led the Brigg front line to an outstanding win against the League Champions Arnold side in a F.A. Cup Preliminary Round game.

The club will never forget him and wholeheartedly agrees with the commendation that "Education has lost a great servant, Sport has lost a great example, Brigg has lost a great character and we all have lost a great friend".

Any donations in memory of Gibb may be sent c/o the funeral directors (J.Naylor, -15, Bigby Street, Brigg. 650520) for "Brigg Lives".

We extend our condolences to Gibb's widow Jane, his daughters Kelley and Lucy and to all his close family and friends.