CROWN green bowling legend Stan Frith has died.
The highly decorated bowler from Weaverham famously completed a stunning treble in the sport’s heyday by winning the All England, the Waterloo and the Champion of Champions in the same year.
His all-round CV of successes on the greens locally and further afield is dazzling.
He played all his league bowls in the Mid Cheshire area for Farmers Arms and then Owley Wood.
Eleven times he was a league average winner, five times a Guardian Cup winner, twice a Cowley Cup winner and also banked a Roberts Cup win in 1982.
Representing Mid Cheshire, he won the Cheshire Senior Merit in 1966, 1992 and 1993.
At national level Stan won the British Crown Green Bowls Association All England event in 1983 and 1992, with 1983 being the year of his special achievement in also lifting the Waterloo Trophy and the Champion of Champions.
At county level, Stan represented Cheshire 147 times - many as captain.
After two years in the county’s under 23s side, he made his debut for Cheshire in August, 1962, and played his final game in May, 2006.
Stan's success with his Cheshire teammates included playing and winning the Crosfield Cup Final eight times between 1967 and 2003.
He also won the Cheshire Senior Award of Merit on a record six occasions.
Stan was the first inductee into the Cheshire County Bowling Association Hall of Fame and considered a ‘true gentleman’ in the bowling community as well as a wonderful player.
He first started playing bowls in his lunch hour after starting work, aged 17, in the research department at ICI Winnington.
In an interview in Northwich Guardian last year, Stan said: “A works colleague and bowler, Herbert Buckley nicknamed (Major), encouraged me to start playing league bowling, aged 18, at The Farmers Arms, Rudheath, alongside my best mate Peter Hayes (Squibber) who was also a workmate.”
He appeared for Rudheath from 1957 to 1980, playing his part in Brunner Cup wins in 1972 and 1978, the Littler Cup in 1961 and the Whitby Cup in 1980.
“The happiest days of my bowling career, both on the green and socially. I will never forget any of them,” said Stan.
“I moved to Owley Wood, Weaverham, in 1980 and spent many happy years there. Owley Wood No1 green has everything for a crown green bowler. Apart from its immaculate condition, it has every type of mark you would wish to play.”
Stan, who also played for the Lancashire indoor team in winters from 1970 to 1980, further reflected: “In 1968, myself and Peter Hayes (Squibber) were Pogson Pairs winners.
“I then played with Keith Birkett in this competition and we went on to win the cup in 1972, 1973, 1983, 1989. We travelled many miles together successfully over the years.”
He confirmed his proudest moment in the sport, saying: “Winning the ‘Grand Slam of Crown Green Bowls’ in 1983 - CGBA All England (August), Waterloo Champion (September), Champion of Champions (September).”
And there is a tale about that impressive feat.
He had won the Guardian Cup in 1982 and the prize was a holiday abroad which was in the September of 1983.
Stan had to pull out of the holiday due to qualifying for the Waterloo final stages.
When the family returned from the holiday he had missed, they learned he had completed his incredible hat-trick.
