Obituaries

Remembering our departed members

Ray Taylor 
Ray Taylor was lost to us early in  2026.  He became an early member at the beginning of the club, and although not an active playerr for the past few years, he continued to support us via regular attendance at our whist drives – where he was a prolific winner of the raffles!  On the green he won the Pairs knockout Cup with founder member Bob Marshall in 2000 and the League Cup with Ray Perkins in 2004 and again in 2005.
He leaves his wife, Lesley, who was also a club member.

Brenda Beckley
It is with great sadness to learn of the passing of Brenda Beckley.
Brenda, together with husband Ron, were very active members of the club until just before covid.  Sadly due to Brenda's deteriorating arthritis and Ron developing dementia they were not able to play but remained as social members supporting the club when able.
Brenda was Ladies League champion in 2008 (shared as a tie with Dorothea Webb) and on her own in 2009. Then in 2015 Brenda won the League Pairs with husband Ron. 

 
Julia Cream (2024)

Julia was a long standing member who only stopped playing a couple of years ago because of failing health. Always there with a helping hand and a no mean bowler Julia will be missed by many.  Julia won the League Pairs Trophy with partner Mike Dilly in 2009 and in 2016 won the Pairs knockout cup with Andy Doughton.

 
Vera Davies (2024)

Sadly we have seen the passing of one of our lively and proactive lady members, Vera Davies.
  Vera was energetic and prominent in organising things.  Through her contacts, she arranged our early-season friendly against Parkside BC at Eastleigh, a game in our calendar for several years.
  Vera was a willing competitor and reached her best form between 2016-19 and won the Ladies League title two years running (2017 & 2018) and won the Pairs League in 2017 with husband Ivor,
to whom the club sends heartfelt condolences.

 vera champ x

 Denys Webb
We also have lost Denys Webb, who passed away in August.  Denys was an early member of our club and a tireless worker within it, serving on the committee which included special responsibilities for the overall maintenance - for which he was awarded, together with his wife Dorothea, Honorary Life Membership. 
He and Dorothea moved from Wraysbury to be closer to their daughter in Royston a few years ago but remained in touch, including keeping up with the news via our website. 

Passing of the club’s first chairman
Tommy Wareham, one of the early members at the start of the club and its first Chairman, sadly passed away recently at the age of 91. Our condolences to Sheila and the family.

 

 

Further tributes

The Club sadly lost three of its long-standing members in the early part of 2021 –
below we pay tribute to them.

 

     Harold Hutt had just celebrated his 91st birthday but then caught Covid-19 in his care home and died shortly afterwards.
    Harold was a dedicated and active member of Wraysbury Bowls Club since its early days and served on the Committee for 20 years, having been voted on as men’s captain in 2000. In that year appropriately he won the club’s Men’s Singles competition.
    Harold took over as club chairman in 2010 and served in that post until his passing. Typical of him wishing to be fully involved was that for the past few years when feeling the strains of getting older he considered retiring from being chairman – but continued to say… “well, maybe one more year!”
    His chairman’s address at the 2018 AGM perhaps summed up his commitment to the club and the frustrations he felt that his leg problems prevented him playing the sport he loved.
    He said: “I am disappointed that circumstances have meant I’ve not been able to participate playing this year. But I would love to be back on the rink again - I miss bowling and the company!”
    He said that he'd hesitated about standing for the committee again, but decided he would continue as “my roots in bowling go back a long way,” adding that “My father was a bowler at Windsor & Eton and I too played there until Wraysbury Bowls Club opened its doors – so then I was only too happy to come over here.”

*****

Ernie Coleman

    Ernie was one of the club’s founder members who passed away after a long illness.

    Ernie was an active member of the Wraysbury Short Mat Bowls Club and became a key player in getting an outdoor bowls club in the village. He, along with Bob Marshall, helped negotiate with the parish council to find a site for an outdoor rink, which thankfully is where Wraysbury Bowls Club sits today.
    Ernie continued to be heavily involved as the club opened in 1998 and became its first Club Secretary, a post he held for nearly ten years.     Our condolences go to his wife June and the family. RIP dear Ernie.

 *****

Eddie Wisby

    Another popular club member, Eddie also died at the age of 91, having battled a long illness.

    Eddie was a popular player at Wraysbury Bowls Club and made the honours board two years running, when winning the Men's Singles title in 2007 and 2008.
    He was unable to play much in the later years, although he did win the Memorial Pairs Trophy in 2014, with partner Sarah Jane Cole.

 *****