Brian Hutchings (3 Jan 1946 - 19 Feb 2022)

It with enormous sadness that the family of Mr Brian Hutchings announces his passing after a very brief illness, on February 19th 2022, at the age of 76.

Brian was born in Long Eaton on 3rd January 1946 to Cyril and Doris Hutchings. He had two siblings, John and Audrey, and his beloved dog, Spot. Brian had a very happy childhood, helping on the local farm as a boy, and attending agricultural shows on West Park where the family bred and showed rabbits. When he was young, his father passed away, leaving him to be raised by his mother, and close family. As a teenager and into his twenties, Brian did an apprenticeship in engineering before working at Crossley for many years. In his spare time, he was also a DJ, regularly played at the ’59 club in Beeston, and he appeared on stage with legendary bands such as Status Quo, and The Move. It was during this time that he met Sue, his beloved wife of over 46 years.

In 1980 Brian became a father to Richard. He was absolutely thrilled about this, and over the years they became the best of friends as well as father and son. Brian was a fantastic dad and was the most important figure in his son’s life, teaching him everything from riding a bike, to patiently trying to show him how to build steam models. He also took the family out on many trips to museums and heritage sites, which would inspire Richard in his later life when he himself became a history teacher. Brian had a passion for the sea, and learned to sail and navigate small boats, his adventures taking him across the North Sea to Amsterdam. This trip was over several days, which was the first and only occasion he was away from Sue for any length of time. She was horrified when he returned home with a full beard and immediately made him shave it off! The Amsterdam voyage began a love affair with the Netherlands, where in later years Brian and Sue spent many happy holidays. He particularly liked the north of the country - especially Schagen, with its carriage museum and animal shows, a town which he and Sue would visit many times.

An aerospace inspector by trade, from his engineering background Brian developed a lifelong interest in model engineering, and would go on to build numerous, and increasingly complex model steam engines himself, many of which would win awards at national engineering exhibitions. Joining the Erewash Valley Model Engineering Society, he made many lifelong friends, especially Allan and Edna. Brian would regularly chat with his dear friend Allen for hours about engineering, and the two of them would often meet to exchange tools, pieces of metal, and technical advice. As he gained expertise in his engineering, Brian would move from relatively simple model kits to fully researched, unique long forgotten engines, such as his Fowell traction engine which now an exhibit in a museum in Istanbul, and his Burrell Boydell model which he was working on during his final years.

Ultimately, Brian’s life was one of fun, and he has left his family and friends with an abundance of happy memories which are fondly recalled years later. From holidays where he accidentally ‘overindulged’ in scrumpy cider and wobbled his bike through a stranger’s garden in Somerset, to the many wonderful Christmases spent exchanging anecdotes and laughs with friends and family, including Mick, Carole, and Marcus, and with his brother-in-law Terry, his sister-in-law Sue, and their daughter Tracey and her husband Chris.
Brian was very well loved, well regarded, and considered a true gentleman by all who knew him. He will be missed greatly - especially by Sue and Rich. However, he will live on in our thoughts, and be forever in our memories.