One of the most successful and well-known figures from Great Yarmouth's famous rollerskating days of the 1960s and 1970s has died.
Barrie Edward Bigg, 70, passed away peacefully in the James Paget Hospital on March 3 of bronchopneumonia following a gradual decline in health over the past few years.
An extremely talented skater from a young age and a pupil of legendary trainer Jocelyn Taylor, Mr Bigg was a member of Great Yarmouth Roller Skating Club (GYRSC), holding the title of British Pairs Champion and runner-up for pairs skating in the European Championships in the 1960s.
A mainstay at the indoor and outdoor skating rinks at the town's Wellington Pier and part of the British Figure Skating team at numerous international events, Mr Bigg also spent 1969-71 teaching skating to Italian children in Monza where he became fluent in the language, after stepping off the airplane with zero Italian words in his vocabulary.
Upon his return to the UK, his talents on the rink even caught the eye of Hollywood, with him being recruited to feature alongside major stars like James Caan in the cult movie Rollerball (1975).
Acting as skating double for Caan's co-star John Beck - mainly because the two shared similar facial hair – Mr Bigg was a key performer in many of the movie's large action set-pieces.
It was around this time he began dating his future wife Linda – herself a skilled roller skater – having known each other since childhood when they first began skating. They would marry in 1977.
By the time he had hung-up his competitive skates in the early 1980s, Mr Bigg was already forging a successful career as an engineer within the town's then burgeoning oil and gas production industry, balancing his professional life with his love of family, golf and Norwich City FC.
Mr Bigg leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Linda, son James, daughter-in-law Tanya, and grandchildren Sophie and Ollie.
The funeral service takes place at St Andrew's Church, Gorleston, on Wednesday, March 16 at 10.15am. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, can be made to Grapevine Talking Newspaper c/o Brundish & Son, 154 Nelson Road Central, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2HZ.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here