A much-loved community leader, who was honoured by his country for his immense
contribution to North-East life, has died aged 86. PETER BARRON reports

TEACHER, sportsman, grass roots sports administrator, school governor, photographer, newspaper reporter, local hero. Charlie Donaghy touched countless lives in a life dedicated to making things happen for the benefit of others.

His death, at 86, has inspired an outpouring of emotion, memories, and richly-deserved tributes.

Between 1956 and 1995, Charlie taught generations at Wolsingham School, in his beloved Weardale, but his influence spread much further afield than the sphere of education. As an official of an ever-growing list of local sports clubs – including snooker, football, cricket, basketball, darts, dominoes, and bowls – his contribution was the stuff of legend.

In 2012, he was rightly recognised for his tireless efforts when he was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of Darlington. Then, in 2021, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to grass roots sport.

In between, he was crowned the Local Hero of 2013 at the annual awards night, organised by The Northern Echo, to honour the stars of grass roots sport. For years, Charlie had filled the pages of the paper’s Local Heroes grass roots sport supplement as a voluntary contributor. It was “citizen journalism” at its very best.

Charlie, who was born in Sunniside on January 17, 1936, was particularly devoted to Tow Law Town Football Club, where he was assistant secretary, highly successful fundraiser, and programme editor when “The Lawyers” reached the A Vase final at Wembley in 1998.

In recent years, he had lived with dementia and had been cared for at The Fields Care Home, in Etherley. His beloved wife, Alice, passed away in 2009, and he leaves a son, Ian, daughter, Anna, and four grandchildren, Annie, 19, Billy, 15, Matthew, eight, and Alice, five.

Ian described his dad as “a force of nature who just knew how to make things happen”.

“He was a ‘doer’ who loved nothing more than running stuff, and being an active leader within the community,” Ian said.

“He had an amazing life and touched more lives than he could ever have dreamed of. We’ve all been blessed to have him in our lives.”

The family paid tribute to the care Charlie had received from staff at The Fields Care Home and, latterly, on Ward 32 at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Mike Amos, former Northern League chairman and Northern Echo columnist, said: “Charlie was indomitable, tirelessly enthusiastic, hugely generous of both time and talent, but above all he was a truly lovely man.

“A love of community was at the centre of everything that Charlie did, particularly if the community was centred around Tow Law and Wolsingham. Everything he did was selfless, and he sought neither recognition nor financial reward.”

Details of the funeral, at Tow Law, will be announced soon, and a donation page will be set up in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, raising money for cancer research.

“We will say goodbye to a lovely, kind, caring man who wanted to give kids the best opportunity to become good people,” added his son Ian.

“Dementia can’t steal any more of him now, but as we always said before the illness arrived as an uninvited guest: ‘Dad, you can forget everything, but never forget what an amazing dad you’ve been!’”

The flame that burned so brightly for the North-East may have gone out – but Charlie Donaghy, local hero, won’t be forgotten any time soon. Rest in peace.