R.I.P. Eddie Haigh

R.I.P.
Mar 27
3 min read

Rest in Peace

Really sad to share the news of Eddie Haigh passing on after a battle against cancer. The funeral will take place at Huddersfield Crematorium at 12.30pm on Wednesday 16th April. This is the formal notice from Eddie's family followed by a tribute and recollection of his many bowling achievements.

Eddie is well known in local sporting circles from his footballing days from when he represented the town in schoolboy matches right through to his bowling prowess in later days. Eddie was a serial contender for all the individual and team competitions in his Veterans League years.

A regular Finals Day appearance-maker and twice, in 2009 and 2016, he won the League's top individual award the Rose Bowl. He didn't stop there going on to become a three-times winner of the Over-70's KO in 2015, 2017 and 2022 progressing to become the Over-80's winner in 2023.

Eddie was a long-standing member of the all conquering Lockwood Con Veterans League team that dominated the competition winning the Division 1 title winners for seven consecutive years 2014-2021. The team continued to dominate team competitions winning the Team KO in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 & 2021 and then they were the Bistro winners in 2017 and 2022.

Eddie was a regular in the Inter-District teams as well as County teams representing Yorkshire 33 times winning 24 of those matches between 1984 and 1991. He played for a number of local clubs including Longwood and Meltham but his real loyalty was with Lockwood Cons. He was a real club man along with his old footballing mates. A former greenkeeper and club representative for the Veterans League.

It was not just his bowling skills that made him a focal point of the sport's attention but his quiet, friendly and humourous manner endeared him to all. But any bowler misled into thinking that his friendly front did not hide a dogged and committed opponent would soon learn differently.

I remember once playing against Eddie at Dalton in the early round of an individual Veterans KO competition when I found myself laying two-on waiting for Eddie to join me at the business end after playing his second wood. Another pair were playing on a mark near us and one of their number picked up my second wood in error. Eddie arrived at the mark, quickly sized up the situation and asked if I wanted to play the end again? His competitive nature seizing the opportunity not to go two down. I declined his offer and took the one chalk still on view but it told me that he was as competitive as ever.

His humour and general good narure were more evident off the green than on it. I remember during the last COVID-19 Lockdown period when social distancing was a major weapon to keep the population COVID-free. Eddie was watching a Winter League match at Milnsbridge BC alongside Bobby Gartside. I took a photograph of the pair of them having a bit of fun. Later Eddie came up to me and asked me not to publish the photo as he would be in trouble with the family if they saw it.

I last saw Eddie at Milnsbridge BC in early February this year when he returned to play some final matches in the Winter League. I talked to him about that 2020 photo and he said he had no objections to it now being published. He also agreed to one more photo being taken. Both are at the foot of this posting.

I am grateful to Dave Parkin for some of the figures about Eddie's bowling career listed below.

This loss follows on the passing of teammate Keith Beaumont in November. It has not been a good winter for the club to lose two such stalwarts. It is equally a real loss to local bowling and to Eddie's many friends in and out of the sport.

EDDIE HAIGH

Longwood

Member of all conquering team of the 1980’s

8 Subscription Cups (1983 to 1991)

3 Norman England 8 Man Team (82, 83 86)

5 Meltham Cups played as League Playoff (84 to 90)

Griffin

23 wins, 5 majors including 2 Rosebowls, 2 Maureen Cawtherays plus a Griffin C of C

Yorkshire

33 caps (24 wins) between 1984 & 1991

Won Home averages in 1st season in 1984

VETERANS LEAGUE ACHIEVEMENTS