Shropshire Star

Tributes paid to Shropshire bowls legend

Tributes have been paid to a "legend" of the Shropshire sporting world who has died aged 92.

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James Buchanan Husband, better known as Jim or JBH, was secretary at the Bowring Bowling Club, near Wellington, for 54 years and also helped organise Sunday League Football in the region.

Mr Husband, who was known for wearing a maroon blazer, took up bowls in 1947 and oversaw the Bowring Bowling Club join competitive league action.

Under his reign the club also built a second green and new pavilion, won county honours and a place in the Shropshire Premier League.

His daughter, Carol Hyde, paid tribute to a "real sports enthusiast" and "fantastic and proud" father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. She said: "My father was I suppose a bit of a legend in the local sporting world. He moved to Wellington when he married my mother and then took up bowls. He was a real sports enthusiast and also organised Sunday League Football across the area. He was split between football in the winter and bowls in the summer.

"He was a well-known and popular man and he was very interested in everything."

Graham Hughes, who is the current secretary at the club, added: "Jim was a real character and everybody liked him. There have only been two secretaries at the club, myself and Jim and he knew this place through and through.He will be missed by us all." Mr Husband was also a past chairman and life member of the Mid Shropshire League. He organised two bowling competitions to celebrate the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and the Bowring Open has been held every year since then.

Two years ago, Mr Husband who lived on Lawrence Road in Wellington, was awarded the Unsung Hero award by the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association.

He passed away peacefully at The Princess Royal Hospital on June 26 surrounded by his family.

Mrs Hyde added:

"His funeral will be held at Telford Crematorium at 11am on Tuesday and under his detailed planning he has asked us to make sure nobody wears black. He had planned this and he left us a note ."

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