Mel Evans MBE

Mel Evans MBE

The crown green world was saddened by the passing of Mel Evans MBE who succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease on Monday 3rd July. Mel worked tirelessly for the game of crown green bowls and was the organiser of large number of competitions, Commercial Officer of the BCGBA and the presenter and producer of numerous internet broadcasts.

A statement released by the BCGBA paid tribute to Mel and stated his greatest achievement was the return of crown green bowls to terrestrial television with the broadcasting of the Waterloo Handicap in Blackpool.

Mel was a very successful bowler who represented Staffordshire in many county matches, he was runner-up in the 1982 All-England and had numerous successes in open competitions. In later years it was in pairs that Mel achieved the most success. His partnership with Lynn Pritchatt, both on and off the green, was very successful with the highlight being the BCGBA Centenary Mixed Pairs in 2008. The full statement is available on the BCGBA Facebook page.

Mel’s daughter Jenny has set up a Justgiving page to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and St Giles Hospice who provided incredible support to the family as they cared for Mel.

Mel’s partner Lynn has already stated a desire to continue supporting the fight to beat Motor Neurone Disease with a Justgiving page and various other charity projects in the process of being finalised. These include a bowls calendar and the ‘Three-peaks’ challenge.

Mel’s funeral and a celebration of his life will take place on Monday 24th July at St Peter’s Church in Hednesford and at Mel’s club, Chadsmoor Bowling Club.

If you would like to see again the broadcasts Mel presented please look on the Globegig crown green page and also the Vimeo video sharing site.

 

About Steve Davies 172 Articles
Throughout his bowling career Steve has always supported the admin side of the game as well as a keen player of the game. As a club secretary, association secretary, county delegate on the BCGBA (National Governing Body) Management Committee, Media Officer for the BCGBA, Merseyside champion in 2002 and Merseyside County President (2014-15) Steve has always been keen to promote the game especially through the broadcast of the game on TV or Internet. Steve set up the LIVE BOWLS YouTube channel which became the Bowls Observer channel and, through the LDBA, runs national competitions. Seeing an avenue to report on and promote the game Steve set up the Bowls Observer on-line magazine.