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NEWS
NEWS NEWS Tribute courtesy of John Church (Northamptonshire Bowls Association Press Officer)
James ‘Jim’ McKee 70 years Kingsthorpe BC both Indoor and Outdoor. 'Jim died at Cynthia Spencer Hospice on Monday, 23rdApril, 2018, after a very short battle against cancer. It is my sad honour to record this tribute to Jim’s contribution to the sport of Bowls. He was one of the most respected, loved and able bowlers that the Club and County has had the fortune to be associated with. He was one of the longest serving bowlers at Kingsthorpe BC, having joined in the late 1960’s when the Club waslocated in central Kingsthorpe, and moving to its present location in 1970. He was one of the most successful bowlers at the Club, winning numerous competitions over his many years, both indoor and outdoor, but he was not just a bowler, for he also involved himself in the Club’s administration, and he was Club Captain in 1990 and 2004, and Club President in 1999. He was a great, loyal and successful player for the County, both outdoors and indoors, for well over 3 decades. He first played for the County outdoor in a Friendly match against Cambridgeshire in 1981, and he was awarded his County Badge in 1982, as a Finalist in the County Fours. His first Middleton Cup match followed in 1985, which was to be the first of at least 100 matches in this senior Inter County competition, with his last being against Norfolk in June 2017. He also played for the County well over 100 times in the Midland Counties BA Inter County championship. His successes in outdoor competitions include: Member for Kingsthorpe of the Manfield Cup winningteam: 1998, 2000, 2001 & 2012, and of the County League winning team:1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Executive Triples winner:2004 & Runner-up:1999. County Fours: Winner 1999, 2001, 2007 Runner-up 1982, 2010, 2011 County Triples: Winner 1991 Runner-up 2003, 2009 So far as indoor bowling is concerned, Jim also excelled for his County, being a member of the Liberty Cup County team for many years, and its Manager for 5 years from 2012, when he fulfilled his proud ambition of winning that Trophy in 2015. He was also an ever present member of the County Over 60 team since 2008, playing his part in the success in winning the trophy on 3 occasions – 2009, 2010 & 2016 and being runner-up in 2015. Also on the National bowling scene he was very successful in Inter Club and Individual competitions, including his membership of Kingsthorpe BC’s Denny Cup winning team in 2003 & 2017 and the Denny Plate winning team in 2012, plus being National Father & Son Runner-up in 1998 & 1999 with Neil, Over 60 Fours Runners-up 2011, Mixed Fours Runners- up in 2006, and National winners of the Over 50 Triples in 2015, having been Runners-up in 2004 and again in 2016. This year Jim had qualified for the National Finals in this event but his sudden illness prevented his appearance at Nottingham earlier this month. Within the County his competition successes included winning the Pairs twice, winning the Triples three times, and winning the Fours 5 times. Under Jim’s Management, the County men won the Midland Counties Championship the ‘Warwickshire Trophy’ in each of the 5 years of his management. Jim was awarded Life Membership of the Northamptonshire Indoor Bowling Association in 2016, for his outstanding contribution to the County. Jim was not just a bowler, however, for he was a great family man, dearly loved by his wife, Yvonne, son Neil and daughter Natalie, and their spouses Rebecca and Rob, and his 4 grand children. He will be sorely missed by everyone. His Funeral is arranged for 11.45 a.m. on Wednesday, 9th May, 2018, at the Counties Crematorium, Milton Malsor,Towcester Road, Northampton,NN4 9RN, followed by a Wake at Kingsthorpe BC. Family flowers only, but donations if desired in favour of ‘Cynthia Spencer Hospice’ via the Funeral Directors, Hollowell Sons, Beech Avenue, Northampton,' This can also be conducted by visiting the funeral directors website www.hollowells.co.uk/donations ************************************************************************************ |
CONGRATULATIONS
British Isles Champions Andrew Manton, Connor Cinato, Neil McKee, Jamie Walker 
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