Bill Kenwright was so generous, Hillsborough campaigner says

Bill Kenwright was joined by Margaret Aspinall for the unveiling of a plaque at Everton's ground in 2015

Bill Kenwright was "generous in every aspect" and everything "a human being should be", Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall has said.

The Everton chairman, who died aged 78, became close friends with Mrs Aspinall in the aftermath of the 1989 disaster, nicknaming her "Magnificent Margaret" for her campaigning work.

She said he supported causes without fuss and "didn't want any recognition".

"He was so generous in every aspect, I adored the man," she added.

The theatre impresario, who was a lifelong Everton fan, reached out to the families of the Liverpool supporters who died at Hillsborough in the aftermath of the disaster and was unwavering in his support in the years that followed.

In 2012, he paid tribute to the victims at Everton's first home match after publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report and a year later, he received a standing ovation after telling the annual Hillsborough Memorial Service that those who sought to cover up what happened had "picked on the wrong city and... picked on the wrong mums".

The campaigner embraced Kenwright after his speech at the memorial service in 2013

In 2015, the pair unveiled a plaque at Goodison Park that honoured those who died.

"When you think of what you believe a human being should be, Bill was that and... so much more," she said.

"He was such a generous, kind, beautiful, humble human being.

"He's going to be so missed. Nobody can follow Bill."

She said what many people did not "realise" about him was "the generosity of the man".

"What he did to help the Hillsborough families, but also so many others, he kept quiet," she said.

"He didn't want any recognition."

Bradley Lowery was a mascot when Everton played Sunderland in 2017

That sentiment was echoed by Gemma Lowery, who founded a foundation in the name of her football-loving son Bradley after his death in 2017.

She said Kenwright, who her family knew as "Uncle Bill", donated £200,000 to their campaign to get treatment for her son abroad.

"Bill was a huge part of Bradley's fundraising journey," she said.

"He was an amazing gentleman, who went above and beyond to help me and my family after Bradley went with the angels.

"I had many long chats with Bill, always asking his advice, he was one in a million.

"I will never forget what he did for us."

Kenwright also donated £50,000 to the family of Laura Nuttall to help her access treatment before her death in May.

"He gave us more time with Laura, so I will always be incredibly grateful to him for that," Laura's mother Nicola said.

"That time we won't ever get back and it was really precious to us.

"He's left a big hole in our lives."

She said she had found his approach to his donations and his support very moving.

"There's the things that people do in private that really define a person," she said.

"The things that no one else sees [such as] actually being on the phone for half an hour, just chatting about football and about health issues and things.

"He was just friendly and open and generous with his time."