Meet Active Sussex’s chairman of the trustees

In a weekly series, Active Sussex introduces its staff and trustees.

Brian Clark first joined Active Sussex’s Board of Trustees in 2018, serving on the Governance and Audit committee and also chairman of the committee for a few years before becoming board chairman last year.

Why did you want to become involved with Active Sussex?

I was never particularly interested in exercise or sport in my early childhood, as the primary school I attended didn’t organise any sport or physical activity at all.

However, at the age of 11 I started to attend my local Grammar school in Manchester and I had both the opportunity and encouragement to do a whole range of sport and activity both at lunchtimes, after school and at weekends.

I particularly loved running and football, but I also played basketball, badminton, gymnastics and tennis. I was hooked on exercise and it has continued to be a lifelong habit that I can’t do without.

The whole experience taught me the importance of opportunity and encouragement for exercise, particularly for children, but also throughout life and these values are embodied in Active Sussex, so I was very attracted to the organisation and what it is seeking to achieve.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am fortunate to be retired and that has given me time to develop my interests in new sports and activity. I have taken up golf, cycling, fishing, badminton and tennis, which I do regularly, as well as running every day. So far, I have been lucky that I have never suffered a serious injury or illness that might curtail my activities.

Since retirement I have become a committed environmentalist and I am a Trustee of the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust, which aims to reduce the pollution of our rivers and lakes.

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

Morning run on Saturday. Match at the Amex in the afternoon as I am an Albion season ticket holder. Up to Catford on Sunday with my partner to look after some of our four grandchildren.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

My favourite place is camping in the Dordogne France in a campsite that is integrated into the natural environment.

What would you like seen changed to help encourage more people in Sussex to be physically active?

System change is needed to encourage more people to be physically active in Sussex. Barriers need to be reduced and more opportunities developed, so that disadvantaged communities and individuals are enabled to become active and habituate activity into their lives.

Would you be interested in becoming an Active Sussex trustee?

We recruit periodically and are always on the lookout for a diverse range of people who have the skills and expertise to govern Active Sussex, and through our work help to reduce inequalities in accessing physical activity in Sussex.

If you would like to know more, visit www.activesussex.org/about-us/meet-the-board/ or to put yourself forward for a position email info@activesussex.org