September 2017

Page 12

12

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September 2017

News

Bradley Stoke father pens book in memory of footballer son Ben Hiscox, 30, died in March 2015 from a head injury sustained playing in match for Stoke Gifford FC

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grieving dad has written a book about the life of his deceased son, in the hope that he can be remembered for “the colourful character that he was” rather than for the tragic accident which led to his death. Clive Hiscox’s self-published book was released on 4th August, more than two years after his son Ben died after striking his head on the clubhouse wall during a match at the Trust Ground in North Road, Stoke Gifford. Although Ben had been raised at the Hiscox family home in Bradley Stoke, he had developed strong ties with the community of Stoke Gifford, initially (as a child) through helping to collect glasses at the former Parkway Tavern and later as a player with the local football team and drinker in the local pubs. As a result, he was well known and liked by people of all ages in “the village”. Ben began playing for Stoke Gifford at the age of 16, and went on to play for Bristol Manor Farm in a higher league for a number of years, but went back to playing for Stoke Gifford United to be with his friends. Hundreds attended Ben’s funeral, held at Westerleigh Crematorium on 15th April 2015. Following the service, everyone was invited to join the family at The Beaufort Arms in Stoke Gifford, where a crowd of well-wishers spilled out onto the pavement along North Road. Later that year, an apple blossom tree was planted in Ben’s memory on Stoke Gifford’s village green, along with an inscribed wooden bench. Explaining his motivation for writing the book, Clive says: “I felt I had to re-live many wonderful times spent in the company of such a lovable character, times I now consider

Ben Hiscox celebrates scoring a goal for Manor Farm in the FA Cup

precious. The fact that so many others came forward to share their own memories convinced me to write this book.” He describes his book as “a true, honest, modern tale of an everyday family striving to enjoy and make the most out of life” and says his aim was to illustrate “how a fun-loving, life-loving individual was able to win the hearts of so many”. “Lots of people will have read the ‘tragic freak accident’ news headlines, but if they read this book, they will realise just what a colourful character Ben was, which will go some way to erasing that label.” Clive says his book has received many positive reviews since it was launched, including some written by people who didn’t know Ben, which he says is “very humbling”. On the recommendation of the coroner, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, adjustments have been made to the layout of the Trust Ground since Ben’s accident, allowing the football pitch to be shifted several metres

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