Brian “Sammy” Hilton

“Deep in our heart’s you will always stay. Loved and remembered every day.”

Sammy passed away peacefully in Leighton Hospital on 8th June aged 88 years,  knowing he was loved by his devoted family.  The beloved husband of Jean, devoted dad of Gayle and Sally and cherished grandad, brother and friend.  He will be remembered with  much affection by all who knew him.

Brian John Hilton but fondly known as Sammy throughout his life except by his sister
Pamela – When he was little, his friend’s family took him on holiday to a cottage in
Whitehaven. One day a huge bird flew down the chimney causing a heavy downfall
of soot and as Brian emerged from the deluge completely covered from head to foot,
his friend’s family thought it was highly amusing and gave him the name Sam!
From then on, the name Sam or Sammy stuck – in fact he was introduced to Jean as
Sam and she never did call him by his real name although funnily enough, she
always sent cards from Jean and Brian and when he sent his carefully chosen
greetings cards to Jean – normally after a prompt from the girls and hours in the
shop choosing a verse, he would also put from Brian!
So there we have it, Sammy, an adoring dad to Gayle and Sally, dear father-in-law to
Graham and Michael and doting grandad to Jamie, Thomas and Amy.
His family meant everything to him, and he used to say with immense pride, “these
are my girls!” Of course, he and his lovely wife Jean laid the solid foundations for a
happy home but everything Sammy did was for his girls, including Jean.
Jean reflected on their incredible social life with family and friends. With an ever-
open door and a warm welcome, everyone loved to congregate at their house, a
party home full of fun and laughter.
Their major party was normally held in June to celebrate Jean’s birthday and their
anniversary, the problem was everyone used to go to the pub first so they would be
very lively and ready to dance by the time they got to the house.
Sammy was a relatively quiet man until he had a tot or two of Dutch Courage and
then he would become the life and soul of the party, up dancing with Gayle by his
side.
The girls are immensely proud of both their parents, especially mum who exemplified
the true meaning of the vows she and Sammy made all those years ago, they had
been married sixty-three years on 17 th June, sadly Sammy passed away on the 8 th ,
shortly before their special day.
Jean and Sammy were the best of friends and truly devoted to each other, in fact,
rarely apart until he was admitted to hospital. Even then they were known as the
family who visited every day. Sammy lived with many ailments over the years but
unless you knew him well, you would be none the wiser, such was his incredible
resilience and stoicism. It was hard to pinpoint when he started with dementia
because he was always forgetful and forever losing things, especially keys! But he
seemed to realise things weren’t as they should be and he decided to stop playing
golf and gave up driving two of the things he really enjoyed.
Jean’s unwavering dedication to Sammy’s care has been a beacon of light, guiding
him with love and friendship until the end of their journey together.
One of three siblings, he was also a brother to the late James, known as Jimmy and
he was very much loved by Jean’s close-knit family: Ron, Howard, Dorothy, Lynne

and their families. He also loved Gayle’s dog Leo – Leo and Grandad were the best
of friends.
Born on 10 th April 1936 to his mum Beatrice, Sammy left school to become an
apprentice at British Rail. He saw active service in Malaya as part of the Cheshire
Regiment and was very proud of his medals, the whole experience stayed with him –
especially as his dementia progressed, he would reminisce and apparently kept
photographs in his pocket.
When he left the army, he returned to his job as a fitter in the Blue Room until he
retired at the age of 63/4 and was always very well respected and unbelievably
strong! One time a very heavy piece of machinery fell on a workmate’s arm, Sammy
was the only person who could lift it. Unassuming, incredibly humble and never a
bragger. Someone who would do anything for anyone and not for adulation or
reward, just because he was an all-round brilliant man who loved to make everyone
laugh.
He could have taken redundancy several times over the years but always refused
until he took bad with shingles in later life then he said if the opportunity arose again,
he would jump at the chance, fortunately it did which gave him and Jean some
quality time together in retirement.
Sammy and Jean first met at the Kettells pub on High Street in 1959. Jean fondly
recounted to me that it wasn't love at first sight for her. Introduced to her as Sam,
she wasn’t initially impressed.
They continued to see each other around town while out with friends in the local
pubs and dance halls. However, it seems their friendship deepened at the cinema.
When Jean took Sammy home to meet her parents, Jean’s dad Ernie also didn’t take
to him at first in fact she was asked, “oh our Jean, where did you get him from?”
But Cupid did strike, and after they were married, they found themselves without a
place to live. They stayed with Sammy’s mum for several weeks until someone
mentioned to Jean that the owner of the sweet shop down West Street had
converted the upstairs rooms into a small flat.
Jean described their first abode as a small living room with just two chairs. They
boiled the kettle on the hearth, and the cooker was in the bathroom. Just
imagine—they could have cooked their chips while taking a bath and then wash the
dishes over the bath! And she remembers the toilet being down in the garden!
Despite these challenges, they persevered for twelve months. The bonus for Sammy
was that it overlooked the LMR football ground.
During their time in the cramped flat, Sammy won a chicken in a raffle—complete
with all its feathers. Being the determined character he was, Sammy declared, “We
won it, so were having it!” He then proceeded to pluck the chicken while sitting on
the bathroom steps.

Looking back, Jean said they simply made do with what they had, but they were
thrilled when they finally moved into their forever home. Sammy always longed for a
loving family, and after meeting Jean, he became very much a part of hers. Jean’s
parents grew especially fond of him, particularly her father, Ernie, who enjoyed going
to the races with Sammy and they went to the Hop Pole together every Friday night.
Jean and her mum would sit watching TV, and it was Jean’s job to go for fish and
chips when her dad and Sammy arrived home from the pub. Gayle told me when
she got older, she would drive gran and grandad home.
Gayle and Sally had a wonderful childhood, and they both remember how dad loved
taking them for very long walks down the tow path and he would teach them all the
flowers. They would be gone for hours.
On Saturday nights he always insisted on taking Jean out and he would go upstairs
to get ready. Come back down and as he walked through the living room door the
familiar “ta da!” was met with the three females shaking their heads with a look of
disapproval on their faces – he never uttered a word, just turned round and went up
to get changed – although he was never really well dressed!
In a house full of girls, he very often zoned out watching the TV whilst they were all
chattering. Quietly enjoying his girls around! Gayle told me when she was younger,
he made her an easel and a paint box out of old pieces of wood she still uses and
cherishes it to this day.
Holidays were always a very important part of family life, he would work nights shifts
to earn the enhancements to ensure they got away, often with Ernie and Dorothy.
During the two-week shutdown, they enjoyed trips to places like Paignton, Devon,
Margate, Barmouth, and caravan holidays in sunny North Wales. Even if it poured
with rain, they still made the most of their time together and enjoyed every moment.
In 1982, they decided to travel abroad and obtained their passports, although Jean
would not fly. So, the family embarked on a trip to Spain with Pete and June,
organized by British Rail. They traveled by train, boat, and couchette train.
Eventually Jean did agree to go on a plane because Sammy was desperate to travel
further afield and they never looked back – exciting journeys all over Europe, Gran
Canaria, Egypt, cruises, lots of coach tours. They regularly visited Gayle in Scotland
and spent many happy times at Jean’s brother’s caravan in Pooley Bridge. Sally
very often went away with them in later years.
Sammy's main passion in life was DIY and their beautiful garden with a kaleidoscope
of colour. Determined not to pay anyone else, he was self-taught, incredibly
talented, and always willing to help others with his valuable skills. Jean only had to
say the words, “Wouldn’t it be a good idea” and the tools would be out in no time.
Once he set his mind to a project, it had to be done immediately.
He supported Sally and Michael through their house renovations, but he did leave
his mark – like he time he was up the ladders like a shot to patch up the cement
round the chimney pot.

Sometime later, Michael was looking for the nail pinchers only to discover, Sammy
had cemented them into the chimney stack and they are still there!
He had a knack for chipping or breaking ornaments. With his trusted tube of
superglue in hand, he would tell the girls, “Your mum won’t notice!” But she always
did. Whenever something was mended in this way, he would jokingly say, “;It’s been
Sammied!”
He had various other interests over the years apart from DIY, darts, competitive
canal fishing for which he won prizes and has been known to have a drunken night
out to celebrate! He liked cricket and dominoes. He loved taking things apart to see
how they work but could never get them back together again!
There was very little Sammy didn’t like in life – one thing that really upset him, he
was profoundly deaf in one ear and didn’t like social distancing.
Cherished memories about a treasured family man.

His funeral will take place at Crewe Crematorium Chapel on Friday 28th June at 2.45pm.

Donations in memory of Sammy will be gratefully received for The British Heart Foundation and Alzheimers Society.

For further information please call 01270 584447