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AN INSPIRATIONAL sports coach, who trained 2,000 youngsters in Slough and Maidenhead, has died. Mourners paid their final farewell to George Gittens on Monday during his funeral on Monday. The church in Church Street, Slough was packed with 700 loved-ones many whom he trained during his 20-year career as a tennis and cricket coach. Wife Lora said: “He was an inspiration to thousands of people. I’ve had parents turning up at my doorstep thanking us because he used sport to turn their children’s lives around. If a child couldn’t get to a lesson then he’d pick them up and go beyond the call of duty because he was so generous with his time. “He was a healthy man but died suddenly. His death is a huge loss to sports. We were planning on going away for our 25th wedding anniversary in August. I’m heartbroken but I’m getting through it with the support of my family and all who loved George.” Mr Gittens, who is buried at Slough Crematorium, juggled coaching with his job as a IT support system analyst in London. The former William Penn School governor trained youngsters at schools, Slough Tennis Centre and Slough Cricket Club and recently branched out to coach under 13s at Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club. The borough’s sporting community has been in shock since 57-year-old, of Manor Park, died following a heart attack at his home on Wednesday, May 20. Leave a message in memory of Mr Gittens in our online book of condolences.