Keith Collins R.I.P.

Rest in Peace

Sorry to report the passing of Keith Collins who played for many years for the ICI, Zeneca, Canalside and Recreation Club teams.

Keith was a really keen bowler and even when his eyesight failed him in later life he continued bowling as a member of the Pennine Blind Bowlers Club going on to national level where he won a number of trophies.

Keith also did a lot of work with the Huddersfield Juniors team including being the away team captain for some while and he was held in high regard by the juniors playing for the teams often deferring to him for guidance.

Since then he has been involved with Huddersfield Recreation Club as a very competitive bowler from his early days with us in 1990s as a second team bowler, progressing to our first teams where he bowled in all of our teams competing in the various leagues in Huddersfield, Elland and Mirfield. For many years he captained the Huddersfield Saturday and Huddersfield Works League teams. Always a very popular member of the section and a good member of our committee.

In later years his failing eyesight meant he found it very difficult to continue bowling but he did until his eyesight prevented him from competing but he came to support offering encouragement and "constructive" criticism as and when.  He was the master of just being able to bowl a 19-metre mark and many opponents would call for long tapes please. Of course 90% of the time he was right! Wherever we were bowling Keith knew somebody and spent  time chit-chatting with the opposition. We will all miss Keith.

Keith's funeral will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium on Thursday, March 27th at 2.00pm. Thanks to Mike Pointon and Bob Haigh for this tribute