Brian Bagnall

(Committee Member, Secretary)

I was born in St. Albans and grew up in Hertfordshire. I attended a boys Grammar School at St. Albans during WW2 and after School Certificate and Matriculation, I went on to study Chemistry and Biology at London University. Subsequently I worked in a Glaxo company involved with testing new chemicals for the control of pests and diseases. After becoming a Chartered Biologist, I worked for a short while in the food industry at Smedley’s in Wisbech before joining Baywood Chemicals, which later became part of Bayer UK Ltd. My work became more involved with the safety evaluation and registration of new chemicals.

In 1949 I married Doreen Saunders and we had 3 children whilst still living in Hertfordshire. We moved to live in Barnack, a small village near Stamford, enjoying village life for two years before I was asked to move to Bury St Edmunds in 1968 when my employers relocated. I retired in 1990 becoming a carer for my wife who was suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

My hobbies were singing, gardening and various sports, but I was also drawn into local politics through dislike of some existing council policies. I became a Borough councillor and a Suffolk County Councillor and in 2001 was made Mayor which introduced me to many of the local charities. In 1998 my wife died after 15 years suffering the increasing effects of PD and at that time our eldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and she died in 1999 leaving 4 children still at school in East Oldham.

As an active Methodist I am grateful for the interesting working life I have had and for the many enjoyable times in family life including seeing 8 grandchildren grow up. I have enjoyed being able to serve people in many ways either as a Crossroads Trustee, a volunteer with Shop Mobility, a local councillor, school governor and as a Pastoral secretary at Church.

I had enjoyed good health, but in September 2003 I suffered a Heart attack at home, my GP called an ambulance and whilst explaining the symptoms to the paramedics I suddenly collapsed and they had to start resuscitation which continued whilst they took me into West Suffolk Hospital. After 2 days I was taken to Papworth Hospital to have a stent fitted after which I was allowed home. After rehabilitation at WSH I was introduced to Upbeat which I have attended regularly since 2004.

Attending Upbeat is very reassuring after a Heart attack, particularly since you have the support of the expert staff and at the same time learn what you can do without fear of adverse effects. Fortunately, I have not experienced any signs of angina and soon found that I could exercise, do my gardening and regularly take part in the Bury Ramblers group where I am now a footpath secretary. All this and still have time for interesting holidays.