Running for dad – and grandad

By Nigel Baudains

Gay Hollingworth will be running the Race for Life at Foote’s Lane tomorrow morning with daughters Daisy, pictured, and Meredith while thinking of her father, who died in January. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0579768)

MILLIONS of TV viewers have unknowingly enjoyed the work of Gay Hollingworth’s father.

Cameraman Stuart Hinchcliffe worked on programmes such as Tops of the Pops, Emmerdale, Rising Damp, Formula 1 motor racing, Channel 4 Racing and professional football.

He lost his battle with cancer in January. Tomorrow, which would have been his 67th birthday, Ms Hollingworth and daughters Meredith, 16, and Daisy, 14, will be taking part in the Race for Life with him firmly in mind.

‘It was almost as if it was meant to be,’ said Ms Hollingworth. ‘I think it will be a difficult day emotionally, but it will give us something to focus on. I don’t really like running and I’d rather cycle or swim, but that makes it more of a challenge.’

In February Ms Hollingworth, who works for the Safeguarding Service (formerly Court Welfare), and five friends went swimming at Pembroke on one of the coldest days of the year to raise money for cancer charities. They collected £377.30 and she and her daughters have been pledged a similar amount if they finish tomorrow.

‘I reckon I can do it and the girls will with no problem,’ she said.

Daisy attends St Sampson’s School while Meredith, known as Mez, is a Grammar School sixth-former.

The family were devastated at their loss and Ms Hollingworth recalled the day they found out that life would never be the same again.

‘Two years ago we were a normal happy family then my dad was diagnosed as being terminally ill and everything changed.’

This will be her first Race for Life, but she has been told what to expect.

‘Everybody I speak to seems to have taken part at some time,’ she said.

Ms Hollingworth wants to thank everybody who has pledged sponsorship.

She also has another connection with TV.

Hailing from Holmfirth, Yorkshire, where Last of the Summer Wine is filmed, the frontage of her family’s former home was used as a character’s residence in some of the earliest episodes.