RESPECTED MEMBER.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 303, 7 December 1936, Page 4

RESPECTED MEMBER.

STRATFORD BOWLER.

Photograph Of Late Mr. J< S. Lyons. <

A tribute to the late Mr J. S. Lyons was paid by the members' of the Stratford Bowling Club on Saturday - afternoon when a fine framed photograph of Mr Lyons was unveiled by the Mayor, Mr J. W. McMillan, before practically a full muster of members.

Some weeks ago the committee of the club decided to present 'the photograph to be hung in a prominent place in the supper room,, and, at the same time, to dedicate the Easter pairs honours board as a memorial to their late popular club mate. The ■ occasion of the meeting of the Stratford A and Stratford B teams in the shield competition was selected for the ceremony. Unfortunately, the game had to be abandoned through wet weather, but 70 members assembled for the unveiling. “The la'te Mr Lyons was one of the finest bowlers and mosh perfect gentlemen it has been my privilege to krfbw, said the Mayor. He had .travelled with Mr Lyons to various bowling tournaments and had many pleasant recollections of stirring contests in the New Zealand championships, where, due mainly to Mr Lyons’ skill and equable temperament, the rink had always done well, on one. occasion being third in .the Dominion. He felt it would be a long time before the Stratford Club would forget Mr Lyons, for, perhaps more than any other man, he had devoted his eneriges to building up membership and coaching young players. Mr McMillan referred to Mr Lyons’ personal victories on the greens of Taranaki and distant centres, concluding by paying a tribute tb the skill of the photographer, who had made such a splendid study of the man. whose memory they desire to honour.

Messrs W. H. H. Young, G. Smart, S. M. Porritt,, L. B. Davis and W. E. Williams all spoke in terms of the keenest appreciation of the late Mr Lyons, and all voiced their sense of loss at his unexpected death. In receiving the photograph on behalf of the club, Mr H. Summerfield, president, paid a high tribute to the memory of Mr Lyons, and spoke of 'the valuable assistance he had given in the deliberations of an endless succession of committees. As sole selector of the club for many years, Mr Lyons demonstrated in a remarkable degree his knowledge of a bowler’s ability'. As a bowling -selector, said Mr Summerfield, Mr Lyons had no equal. Mr Lyons had won the Easter pairs competi'tion no fewer than seven times. This was a competition in which their late member had always taken an especial interest, and he announced that it had been decided, for the future, to place the record of wins on the panel to be known .as the Lyons' Memorial Honours Board. Members then stood in silence as a mark of respect and in sympathy with the bereaved family.