This is one of the hardest posts I have ever had to write but, now the family have made it public, I feel it is my duty to relay the sad news of the passing of League legend Jeff Hutchinson in the early hours of this morning at the Royal Stoke Hospital, aged 91.
Tributes to one of the great administrators of the game will be paid at the League’s April meeting on Tuesday the 4th, fittingly to held at a place close to Jeff’s heart – the Sir John Bayley Club.
He was made a life member of the League in 2017 – and he’s pictured with the award – and the summary on this website sums up his contribution to the sport in a nutshell.
It reads: “Awarded in recognition of the long term commitment and outstanding work on behalf of the League and SCGBA. A past league secretary and president who represented Mid Shropshire as County President in 2005.”
But Jeff was so much more than that to crown green bowling and his great playing claim to fame was to win an open competition at the long-gone White Horse, Heath Hill, claiming the scalp of then county No.1 Tony Poole en route to the title.
A devoted historian, Wellington-based Jeff was the co-author of the book that celebrated the centenary of the Shropshire Crown Green Bowling Association in 2012, with the late Terry Sambrook and myself – and he was a mighty proud man when we picked up the first copies from the printer.
He played a huge part in the launch of the Shropshire Premier League in 1994 and, in recent years, became very active on the senior citizens scene, successfully launching the countywide KO for the Wrekin Cup.
I’m too upset to write much more about my mentor, but I thank him for all he taught me and the League’s sincere condolences go to Jeff’s family at this saddest of times.
Malcolm Fletcher