SussexSpur
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Hope tomorrow is a fitting farewell; rest in peace. . .
from The Argus t'other day. . .
A FATHER-OF-TWO has died of a sudden heart attack during a family holiday in Spain.
Andy Magrath, 37, of Farm Hill, Brighton, had shown no signs of ill health before his death, the day before his 36th wedding anniversary.
He, his wife Jacqueline, 12-year-old son Ashley and seven-year-old daughter Molly had been visiting Mrs Magrath's family near Barcelona.
They were due to return to England the following day but remained in Spain for a funeral.
They now plan a service to celebrate Mr Magrath's life.
It will be held at St Philip's Church in New Church Road, Hove, on September 5.
Mr Magrath was an avid Brighton and Hove Albion fan who attended the play-off final in Cardiff in May and last month's victory parade through Brighton.
Fellow fans will attend his memorial service wearing club colours and selections of his favourite music will be played.
Warwick-born Mr Magrath had lived in Sussex since the age of four.
He worked as a safety supervisor at Gatwick, having joined in 1988.
He also threw himself into community activities, including theatre groups and the governing body at Carlton Hill Primary School.
Mr Magrath was a parent-governor representative on Brighton and Hove Local Education Authority and a member of the Campaign for State Education's national executive.
Councillor Pat Hawkes, who chairs Brighton and Hove City Council's children, familes and schools committee, said: "Andy was a very committed parent-governor representative who served the city conscientiously.
"His premature death is a great loss to us all. He was a lovely person who was a dedicated member of a number of our advisory committees."
Mrs Magrath said: "He was very outgoing, very bubbly and always smiling. People always commented on what a fantastic sense of humour he had.
"He loved all kinds of music - the wackier the better - and adored football and Brighton and Hove Albion.
"He was full of enthusiasm about how well they did in Cardiff.
"People he knew through the club have been wonderful in their support since he died. He had shown no signs of being unwell before this happened and had no health problems.
"This holiday was the first time we'd visited my family in Spain for four years. It had been a wonderful holiday until the day before we were coming home.
"The last few weeks have been devastating for all of us. He was a devoted family man.
"But we want his service to be a celebration, not a dull and boring affair. He wouldn't have liked that."
The service begins at 5pm.
The family has asked people not to send flowers but to make donations payable to the British Heart Foundation, c/o Kate Lewis, 106 The Greenways, Ovingdean, Brighton, BN2 7BL.
from The Argus t'other day. . .
A FATHER-OF-TWO has died of a sudden heart attack during a family holiday in Spain.
Andy Magrath, 37, of Farm Hill, Brighton, had shown no signs of ill health before his death, the day before his 36th wedding anniversary.
He, his wife Jacqueline, 12-year-old son Ashley and seven-year-old daughter Molly had been visiting Mrs Magrath's family near Barcelona.
They were due to return to England the following day but remained in Spain for a funeral.
They now plan a service to celebrate Mr Magrath's life.
It will be held at St Philip's Church in New Church Road, Hove, on September 5.
Mr Magrath was an avid Brighton and Hove Albion fan who attended the play-off final in Cardiff in May and last month's victory parade through Brighton.
Fellow fans will attend his memorial service wearing club colours and selections of his favourite music will be played.
Warwick-born Mr Magrath had lived in Sussex since the age of four.
He worked as a safety supervisor at Gatwick, having joined in 1988.
He also threw himself into community activities, including theatre groups and the governing body at Carlton Hill Primary School.
Mr Magrath was a parent-governor representative on Brighton and Hove Local Education Authority and a member of the Campaign for State Education's national executive.
Councillor Pat Hawkes, who chairs Brighton and Hove City Council's children, familes and schools committee, said: "Andy was a very committed parent-governor representative who served the city conscientiously.
"His premature death is a great loss to us all. He was a lovely person who was a dedicated member of a number of our advisory committees."
Mrs Magrath said: "He was very outgoing, very bubbly and always smiling. People always commented on what a fantastic sense of humour he had.
"He loved all kinds of music - the wackier the better - and adored football and Brighton and Hove Albion.
"He was full of enthusiasm about how well they did in Cardiff.
"People he knew through the club have been wonderful in their support since he died. He had shown no signs of being unwell before this happened and had no health problems.
"This holiday was the first time we'd visited my family in Spain for four years. It had been a wonderful holiday until the day before we were coming home.
"The last few weeks have been devastating for all of us. He was a devoted family man.
"But we want his service to be a celebration, not a dull and boring affair. He wouldn't have liked that."
The service begins at 5pm.
The family has asked people not to send flowers but to make donations payable to the British Heart Foundation, c/o Kate Lewis, 106 The Greenways, Ovingdean, Brighton, BN2 7BL.