[24 AUG 10] CRUSADER NEWS

 Hall Donation to the

Crusaders Foundation

Inset: Hall Brothers owner Robert Hall & Coventry Crusaders Managing Director Robert ‘Dip’ Donaldson.

Picture courtesy of www.sallyevansphoto.co.uk

By Adam Manning

Crusaders Reporter

As the Coventry Crusaders look to build upon last year’s hugely successful community presence, little did they know of the historical significance behind a property developer’s recent donation given to the Crusader Foundation’s community work.

Impressed by the club’s efforts in educating youngsters about healthy lifestyles and important life skills, Hall Brothers owner Robert Hall, whose grandparents were the first and only black family to settle in Coventry for 50 years in 1902, was more than happy to hand over two donations to the Crusaders on behalf of his business.

“I’ve tried to support young people wherever possible” said the 65-year-old entrepreneur and governor. “I was aware of Dip’s community involvement and I’m very supportive of the club’s multi-cultural programmes supporting the city from various ethnic backgrounds.”

The meaning of Hall’s contribution to the Coventry public goes much deeper than that though. It’s about showing appreciation to an area where family roots have stayed planted for over a generation when his grandfather moved to Walsgrave in the early 20^th century to work in the city’s thriving car industry.

“My grandfather Charles Hall came to Coventry around 1902 with his wife who came from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, consequently they were the first mixed race family in Coventry” explained Hall.

“There were eight brothers and sisters in all, including my step brother, as my grandmother was a widow who married my granddad. My granddad died in the 1940s having been a Mill righter in a car factory all of his life, and of course the Hall family were the only black family in Coventry for the best part of fifty years!” he revealed.

In 1933 came the start of the Hall Brothers, a property development company that today employs 40 Coventrians and has boasted customers such as football icon Stuart Gray, who has previously managed Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Northampton Town FC. Hall Brothers stands in Mansfield Avenue, Walsgrave, and is a symbol of his father Bob and Uncle Bill’s creation, and Grandfather Charles’s vision.

“My granddad had the forth sight to get all of his sons into a trade, consequently my dad went as a bricklayer after serving a seven year apprenticeship, and eventually set up Hall Brothers with his brother Bill in 1933” he explained.

And as Robert continues his family’s historical legacy 108 years on, his generous donations are helping the Crusaders facilitate programmes to educate the adults of tomorrow about healthy habits and civil behaviour through the game of basketball.

Crusader Foundation director Scott Neely, who oversees the club’s community work, praised the innovative and sustainable impact of Hall’s donations. Among other things it helped stage the first ever weekly youth basketball league at the Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre last September, with over 90 children taking part.

 ‘The donations from Hall Brothers have been vital to our youth basketball teams’ stated Neely.

‘With Hall Brothers' help we have been able to keep costs of club sessions to a minimum and provide an opportunity for young people to take part in the newly formed Coventry and Warwickshire Youth Basketball League for U12's and U14's players.’

‘Their donation also made it possible to operate two youth basketball teams competing in the England Basketball National League at U16's and U18's age groups. Approximately 50 young people have benefitted from the donations and had excellent experiences which hopefully will serve them well in their future endeavours!’.

For more information on the club’s community work or for other enquiries, contact Crusader Foundation director Scott Neely on scott@crusaders.co.uk .

 

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