'Dedication of dad earned him the trust of his peers'

A FOOTBALL-LOVING road safety campaigner who made a huge contribution to organisations across Derbyshire has died.

Jack Oldrini was a key member of the Belper and District Road Safety Committee for 35 years and served on the committees of Matlock Town and Buxton Football Clubs.

He helped form Belper's Derwent Sports FC in 1971, was active on the Derby Combination football league's committee and rarely missed a Belper Town FC home game.

The father-of-two, of Mount Pleasant Drive, Belper, was honorary treasurer of the British Heart Foundation in the area for more than 10 years.

He died of pneumonia at the Royal Derby Hospital, aged 86.

His son, Nigel Oldrini, said his father was a great role model to his family.

He said: "He and I attended an untold number of football matches over the years and I suppose this is how I will best remember him.

"My father always had a sense of loyalty and duty to everything he tackled in life.

"His dedication to his family, his work and an unerring attention to detail in all the roles he undertook for a variety of bodies earned him trust and respect from his peers."

Mr Oldrini served in the RAF in the Second World War and married his wife, Esme, in 1953, when they moved to Buxton. His job as a branch accountant at Nat West Bank saw him work in Matlock, Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith before he and Esme moved to Belper in 1967.

Mr Oldrini helped revive the Belper Nursing Charity Cup while on the Derby Combination League committee, where he held the posts of vice-chairman, chairman and treasurer over 25 years.

Nigel said: "I attended my first match at Buxton at the age of eight and together we must have travelled thousands of miles together watching football of all standards.

"In the past year, sadly, he wasn't well enough to attend football matches. My father loved his family, was dedicated to everyone and everything he was involved with, loved sport and made a huge contribution to local organisations.

"We all loved him very much and will sadly miss him."

Chris Jackson, of Belper Road Safety Committee, said Mr Oldrini's input in the safety organisation was invaluable.

He said: "Jack was the stalwart of the committee for more than 30 years and was the man who kept things moving in the group, making what it has done a rolling programme."

As well as Esme, Nigel and daughter-in-law Pauline, Mr Oldrini leaves son Tim, grandchildren Sarah and James, and great-grandaughter Mya.

Mr Oldrini's funeral takes place today at Markeaton Crematorium, at 11.20am.

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