| WILLIAM ERIC BLACK "It is with great sadness that I must inform the Club membership of the passing of Eric Black on Friday, 8th July 2011 - one of the the Club's oldest members both in age and also in years of membership. Eric was an excellent croquet player who was almost certainly one of the last to play side style but which - in his prime - did not prevent him from being a formidable opponent. If my memory serves me correctly, Eric's handicap went as low as scratch. Together,
with his sister Sheila, they were ardent fans of croquet,
to the extent that they even arranged their holidays around visits
to Australia and elsewhere in order to watch the MacRobertson
Shield
being played "down under". or wherever! When age and poor health
prevented Eric playing, nonetheless, you would find him and Sheila
coming to the Club each weekend (or whenever tournaments were being
played) so that he could
watch, enjoy and occasionally pass comment upon the state of play and
how
he would have done something different! A true supporter and fan of the
game.
Eric
helped the Club with many voluntary activities. He was a craftsman of
quite extraordinary ability - something that many of you may not have
appreciated unless you visited him at Sunrise - where he and Sheila
resided in the last 15 months or so - and saw the artwork that he had
made. Because of Eric's skills, he made or repaired tables and chairs
and generally used his "services" to the Club's advantage - perhaps
you've been sitting on
one of Eric's wooden chairs in the past.
Eric and
Sheila were inseparable and hence the delight to know that
they were able to secure a "companion suite" at Sunrise when it became
necessary for them to move from their Apartment at Silverdale in
Altrincham. I know that Sheila and Eric conversed, cuddled and
cried in each other's arms shortly before his passing and her brother's
loss will be a great blow
to her - as it will be to the Club. One half of a remarkable duo has
passed on and it means that we are slowly heading
towards the close of another era. Eric was the epitome of a bygone age
when manners, values and respect were paramount. He will be sorely
missed and may he now rest
in peace.
The funeral will take place on Monday, 25th July 2011 at 10.30am at Altrincham crematorium. There will be very few people there and it would be nice for as many club members as possible to be present so that they can pay their respects to Eric and also be a support to Sheila." Mike Sandler
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