Sad to read about the current plight of this legendary character. Love him or not love him, you couldn't ignore him. Remember him with Bob Wilson and Brian Moore, fond memories, Jimmy Hill was Mr Football. In the 1960s, he ushered in player-power by getting the maximum wage scrapped. For three decades after that, he dominated the footballing airwaves on Match of the Day programme. He also pioneered all-seating stadiums by becoming the first English club chairman to abolish standing at matches, and was instrumental in introducing the âthree points for a winâ rule in 1981 that helped transform the modern game into the most exciting sport in the world. The football-loving public owes Jimmy Hill a lot. So it will be with great sadness for them to learn that, at the age of 85, Hill is suffering from dementia and living in a nursing home near the south coast, too ill to be looked after at home. News of his illness will upset his many fans, and has already caused deep distress among his family, including his third wife Bryony, 62, as well as his five children from two previous marriages. Hill was diagnosed with Alzheimerâs in 2008, but it is only now being highlighted by his youngest son Jamie, 46, and his sister Joanna, 50. The pair have decided to raise awareness of their fatherâs illness to highlight concerns over the difficulties that arise when a parent â with a large extended family â becomes too poorly to make decisions for themselves. Hill, who appeared on Match of the Day from 1973 to 1998, gave joint powers of attorney to his current wife and a solicitor in 2005, when he was still in good health. As a result, none of his children has any say in his future affairs or his treatment.
It is sad when this disease takes hold, read the story and it seems the kids didn't get on with his wife. But for whatever reason they are publically bickering about I hope Jimmy 'the chin' Hill get the best treatment his money can get him. There are many that can't afford this type of care. In the 70's Jimmy was playing golf in a Pro-am tournament at St Mellons when a work colleague of mine asked "Jimmy, are you going to vist the bluebirds whilst you are here?" to which he apparently replied "Why? They don't visit me when I am sick!"
Very sad. I saw my Gran taken by dementia. Thankfully, after a couple of years her body gave in. The end of our lives can be so terribly sad. Nature's a cow, sometimes.
