A GP and church leader who practised in Hinckley for many years has died.
Dr Brian Smith Beardsworth worked in the town from 1958 to 1998 and was an elder at Mount Road Baptist Church until recently.
His family said in tribute: “He was a man full of life, humour and wit and his generosity, in time and money, was felt by many both here and abroad.”
Brian was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, and moved to Torquay at the age of seven, where he attended grammar school.
He enjoyed cricket and met his future wife, Molly, after they were set up by a mutual friend.
After two years’ national service, ‘Dr B’ studied medicine at King’s College in London, where he met Dr Frank Johnson, with whom he would later establish a practice in Hinckley.
He also attended Westminster Chapel, under the ministry of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, forming a deep Christian faith that was to influence his life.
Brian married in 1954 and left an initial career in anaesthetics to join Dr Johnson in Hinckley as a GP partner, where he remained until his retirement in 1998.
The family said: “He was a well-loved family doctor, renowned for chatting, his compassionate bedside manner, as well as delivering many babies at Roundhills Maternity Hospital and anaesthetic sessions for surgeons at Hinckley Hospital.”
On retirement, he handed on the stethoscope to his youngest daughter, who still practices at Station View Health Centre.
The committed Christian helped grow the former Zion Baptist Chapel in Trinity Lane, and later in the building and ministry of Mount Road Baptist Chapel.
He supported ministers and missionaries and others, both in the UK and further afield, via his charitable trust, set up in the late 1960s following a large legacy from Albert Waghorn at Westminster Chapel.
He was also president of Hinckley Mencap for some years, enjoyed cricket and gardening in his spare time, and had a great love of Christian books, donating many books to others.
Brian died at home aged 92 and leaves behind his wife Molly, children Jonathan, Isabelle, Sheila and Helen, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He also had a son, Timothy, who died in September 1978 aged 17, and a daughter, Alison, who died in November 2018 of breast cancer.
The family has set up an online memorial page where people can upload their pictures and memories of Brian or make a donation in his memory, available here.
After a family burial, an online thanksgiving and memorial service will take place on YouTube on May 17.
If you do not have online access but would like to make a donation, call G Seller on Hinckley 637457.
