Alison Hopkins

Birtley Athletics Club are sad to announce the passing of honorary member Alison Hopkins.
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Alison started out at the club as a parent of Richard and Fiona, who were competing athletes for many years; she then went on to coaching the 8 – 11 year old group.

Alison was a valued, reliable and much loved club member throughout her 15 or so years at the club.
In her coaching role, she helped develop hundreds of children who came to the club, she was always kind and patient and always on hand to guide the children and offer advice to other coaches.
She give up her time on weekends, supporting young athletes at races, cheering them on. She always helped at clubs social events and was an active club committee member. As well as the above, she was also a prolific fundraiser for the club, raising thousand of pounds through car boot sales, which often involved a 5am start on a Sunday morning. The money raised was vital to the club to give the young athletes opportunities.

Alison was an absolute asset to the club and will be sorely missed. She retired from club duties, to spend more time with her family and her legacy lives on through Fiona, who has taken over the mantle as under 11 coach at the club.

Our condolences go to the Hopkins family at this difficult time.

Alison's funeral will take place on the 16th August at 10:30am, at Durham Crematorium, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TQ and then Washington Arts Centre, Biddick Lane, Washington, NE38 8AB for the wake.