Moore 'a great man', mourners told

13 April 2012

Mourners today packed a village church to hear tributes to Brian Moore, the legendary football commentator who died just hours before England's historic 5-1 victory over Germany just over a week ago.

Moore, 69, whose commentating career spanned three decades, was known to millions but was "never happier than when he was surrounded by his family," the service in celebration of his life heard.

Family, friends and celebrities from the world of television and football squeezed into St Giles' Church, Farnborough, in Kent, following a private cremation this morning.

Fellow ITV commentator Bob Wilson struggled to control his emotions as he told mourners: "Brian Moore simply embraced me with a friendship and compassion that makes today almost impossible to face.

"He truly loved his job and a game of football."

He added: "He always had a way of making everybody he met feel more important than himself."

In a faltering voice, Mr Wilson said: "I know what a good listener you are so I hope you realise what a friend and inspiration you've been to all those here today and the untold millions who loved you."

Moore's widow Betty and sons Christopher, 42, and Simon, 38, had lost a "great, great man" he said.

In his own tribute, Christopher Moore, said his father had reached out to millions, including the 26 million people who listened to his BBC radio commentary of England's 1966 World Cup triumph over West Germany.

He said: "We knew from kind letters and cards that many of those thought they knew Dad through the easy nature and familiarity of his voice."

He said his father was often approached by people who recognised him in the street but that he always took time to speak to them for a "kind and cheerful" chat.

Mr Moore said: "He had a gift of making people feel special and so his life became full of special relationships.

"But Dad was never happier than when he was surrounded by his family.

"He would not swap a family dinner for anything in the world."He said although his father was used to speaking to millions, he often found a way of combining his public and private words.

He recalled how he would drop "secret messages" to his family into his commentary.

"He would wait for an innocuous picture such as a rain-soaked spectator and then say something like: 'It's just been one of those days', a secret message to my mum at home to say: 'I'm thinking of you'."

Moore's other son, Simon, told the service: "Dad was the biggest softie going. I'm not ashamed to say that joy and compassion were never far from him.

"He was a warm, gushing fountain of love that began with my mum, brother Chris and I, and spread out in all directions."

The hour-long service heard details of Moore's three decades as a commentator and ITV's "voice of football" until his retirement at the end of the 1998 World Cup final in France.

But his long-time friend and football writer Norman Giller attacked the fact that Moore was never awarded an honour such an OBE.

Mr Giller said he and other friends had lobbied for many years but their request "fell on deaf ears".

He said: "The Whitehall mandarins should be eternally ashamed of this, as Brian did credit not only to his profession but to the human race."

Other mourners included football pundit Ron Atkinson, former soccer manager Brian Clough, commentators John Motson, Jim Rosenthal, Jimmy Hill and Trevor Brooking, and the former Speaker of the Commons, Lord Weatherill.

In his own tribute, Lord Weatherill spoke about some of the charities Moore had been closely involved in including a day nursery in Bromley for disadvantaged children and providing the voice for a talking newspaper.

He also worked for several cancer charities and helped raise funds to restore St Giles' Church, which he attended regularly.

Lord Weatherill said: "His reputation as a popular and absolutely fair commentator will always be remembered."Moore, who deplored players who cheated, became a presenter for BBC Radio in 1961 and joined ITV in 1968, appearing on its flagship Midweek Sports Special.

He was fondly remembered for his faux pas and for his humble and gentle manner.

On one occasion he said: "And now the familiar sight of Liverpool lifting the League Cup for the first time."

But today's service heard that his unruffled and smooth commentaries disguised his meticulous preparation, which often included arriving at the ground hours before kick-off.

He married Betty in 1955 and in 1986 he became a devout Christian after a heart scare.

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