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April 1st 2012; Sadly I have heard that Stan Brocklebank has
passed away. Stan had played in our league since the folding of the
Canterbury League and was a credit to, and supporter of, the friendly
nature of the league we play in. To show the esteem in which he was
held I have, by kind permission of the Kentish Gazette, been allowed
to publish his full obituary,
Click here to
see it.
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May 31st 2011; It is my sad duty to inform you of
the passing of Harry Pearson. Harry played in our league for over thirty
years, starting at the Whitehall in Shepherdswell. As far as I can see
Harry never won an individuals trophy but was one of the foundation stones
of the league. His smile and chuckle will be sorely missed. Harry's funeral
was 13th June at Barham. R.I.P. Harry.
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Oct 23rd 2010; Sad news.
I've just heard that Roger Oldfield, a long term player and supporter
of our league, was taken ill whilst playing golf and has died.
We all knew Roger as one of the keenest supporters of our league
and always a pleasure to share a pint and a game with.
The Funeral service for Roger was at Goodnestone Church on
Wednesday 3rd Nov. |
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Richard Shepherdson, September 2009.
September 22nd; I have had a call from Brian Wiseman to say that
Richard has been found dead, sadly it would seem he took his own life.
Richard, Ruth and the rest of the Wiseman family played in the league for
many years and we were expecting to see Richard playing again this season.
Richard's funeral will be at Barham on Thursday 8th at 1240hrs. No flowers
please, donations to Dilnot-Smith for the RNLI or Mountain Rescue. |
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Another Champion Passes, August 2009.
Sadly I have to report the passing of another former champion of the
league, Bob Baker. Bob was a Royal Marine Bandsman and spent his latter
years of service in Deal. Bob started playing as a part of the then mighty
Alma team. Surprisingly for a player of Bob's calibre he never won the open
singles but was runner-up in 1981. With his wife Rose he won the mixed
pairs twice in 1978 & 81. A quiet and unassuming man, Bob was always
pleasant and rarely had a bad word for anyone. I knew him through bar
billiards, work at P&O and through other interests since. Rest in Peace
Bob. |
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A Great Champion Passes, March 2008
Few on here will remember her, but I had to note the passing of Sheila
Howell (nee Hill). I have only just heard that Sheila lost a long battle
against that awful disease cancer a few months ago. Winner of three Ladies
Singles titles, seven Mixed
Pairs titles and four Ladies Pairs (that we have records for), Sheila was as good as any lady player in the league at that
time. Sheila and her husband David were part of the all conquering Rose and
Crown in the old Deal League and subsequently, the early days at the Alma
in the current league. Have a look at the Hall of Fame and spend a few
seconds remembering her, a thoroughly nice person and a great player..
Rest in Peace Sheila |
Feb 11th 2007. Jack (Paddy) Maher passed on. He had played bar billiards for
half a century in this league and the Canterbury league before.
Jim Hornibrook 1944 - 2003.
A tribute from Chris Saville.
I first new Jim Hornibrook in the late sixties. I was a
sprog bar billiards player going through my early seasons in the old Deal
league. Mike Callanan and I used to go over to the Nags Head in Canterbury
to watch the 'Gods' of the green baize ply their trade in the then mighty
Canterbury League. There were none better and none more welcoming than Jim
Hornibrook, that sums him up!! Jim won the Canterbury Open Singles on more
than one occasion and was a part of the all conquering Canterbury
Interleague side that lifted the trophy on three successive years. He was
also a top class footballer and cricketer representing his local area in
both sports. One thing you knew if you were up against Jim was that you
were in for a battle, but a battle fought to the fairest of standards and
a hand shake after.
It was a cruel twist of fate that saw Jim develop
Emphysema in the early seventies, and a gradual deterioration in his
health until 1987 - 88 when I saw a man that I thought was at death's door
sitting with an oxygen cylinder at the Canterbury presentation night. That
showed how determined he was to overcome his illness. Medical science came
to his aid with a lung transplant in 1989. This brought a radical
improvement in his health, but saw the start of a long battle to keep it.
During the following years Jim met the challenge where many would have
given up. He raised thousands of pounds for Harefield and The Kent And
Canterbury Hospitals and threw his efforts into local community life.
Jim wrote columns for Bar Billiards and other sports in
the Kent Gazette, and he continued to play bar billiards until the demise
of the Canterbury League in 1997. He was a good golfer winning the
Sunshine Masters National Title in Portugal in 1995, and forced to do it
without the aid of a buggy in the last round. He also became heavily
involved in local village life in Chartham, where he was born, as a Parish
Councillor and Chairman of the local sports club.. He was tireless and
thoroughly committed in everything he did.
Latterly he made the odd guest appearance in our league
for Stan Brocklebank's team and was a regular visitor to our Presentation
evenings. So when you start your matches next week spare a thought for a
remarkably gifted man who fought and won a frustrating battle over ill
health for nearly thirty years. He was a fine a player and as nice a
gentleman as I have had the privilege and pleasure to meet.
God Bless you Jim! |
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