Funeral of Frank Downes to take place next week

THE funeral of Hinckley building entrepreneur Frank Downes is to take place on Monday next week.

Mr Downes, the driving force behind many building projects in the town, died at the age of 86 on March 21.

The businessman leaves behind wife Sylvia, sons Kevin, Andrew and Nigel and grandchildren.

His funeral will take place on Monday (April 9) at the Hinckley Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel at 2pm.

Mr Downes established construction company FE Downes in 1962 which would go on to build swathes of houses over the next few decades.

However, his legacy also includes the construction of Hinckley Golf Club and the refurbishment of the Sketchley Grange Hotel in the 1980s.

Prior to 1983 Hinckley’s golf course was found on Burbage Common and featured a nine hole course with three extra holes.

It was in the early 1980s that moves were made to build a full 18-hole course, efforts spearheaded by Mr Downes.

The new course was built over a period of 18 months on its current Leicester Road site.

It opened in August 1983 and remains on the site to this day going from strength with both men’s and women’s teams taking part in competitions.

With a par of 72 and four lakes, the course was a boost for the town and an improvement on the previous course on which one of the holes was split in two by railway tracks.

Mr Downes’ funeral begins at 2pm.

A large number of mourners are expected to attend and they are asked to arrive in plenty of time.

Donations are welcome in memory of Mr Downes for the charity Prostaid. These can be given courtesy of funeral directors G. Seller and Co.

Frank Downes at Hinckley Golf Club which opened in early August 1983. Former president Frank had overseen much of the construction over the previous 18 months. He is pictured here in August 1983