Former chair of magistrates committee dies Family tributes to Solihull JP
ARENOWNED former magistrate from Solihull has died aged 86. Brian Twigg became a JP in his home town in 1979 and went on to chair the whole of the West Midland Magistrates Courts committee.
Born in Solihull on May 3, 1931, he was the only child of Hamilton and Winifred Twigg, who owned a bookshop in The Parade in Solihull.
The family lived above the shop and when Mr Twigg’s father went off to war his mother ran the business.
Mr Twigg was educated at Eversfield and in 1939 gained a scholarship to Rugby School, but because of the war ended up attending the local Solihull School.
As a pupil he was a keen photographer and won several prestigious prizes.
Later he completed his National Service, being posted to Tripoli and later to Egypt.
He then won a place at Birmingham University where he became chairman of the Commerce Society and an active member of the university car club, becoming a life president.
Mr Twigg graduated in economics (later going on to obtain two more degrees through the Open University – a BA in 1980 and a BSc in 1990).
He began his career at Rover cars in 1956 and later moved to automotive engineering firm Girling in his mid-20s, going on to become marketing manager for parent company Lucas industries.
Mr Twigg met his wife-to-be Maggie at a Christmas party in 1957.
They were married in 1959 and had three children, Susan, Michael and Kathryn, all brought up in Dorridge. He was also proud of his nine grandchildren – six boys and three girls.
An active Mason, he and his wife moved to Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire, in 1987 where he became Church Warden and chairman of the Village Hall committee. When he moved to Henley in Arden in 2003 he was immediately asked to chair the local War Memorial Trust committee and latterly edited the Henley in Arden Town Guide.
A family spokesman said: “He was a public spirited person and believed in putting back into the community what he got out of it.
“He also found time for hobbies – reading, stamp collecting, computing and several sports among them.
“With a dry sense of humour and a quote for every occasion, he also became know for his witty after dinner speeches.”
Mr Twigg died peacefully in Warwick Hospital on October 12, with his family by his side.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, November 25 at St John the Baptist Church in Aston Cantlow.