Cricket, golf, bowls – sportsman Ron played them all

Family and friends are preparing to gather to fondly remember one of Canterbury’s most enthusiastic sportsmen who has died at the age of 89.

Table tennis, badminton, squash, bowls and latterly golf were all Ronald Thomas’ forte, although his first love was cricket.

Ron’s sporting talents blossomed after he joined the St Andrew’s Youth Club at the age of 15 in 1943.

He was one of the youngest players to take part in the Canterbury and District Table Tennis League, founded in the Air Raid Precautions HQ in Palace Street.

Ron collected various trophies over the years including the veterans’ singles, and the mixed doubles with his wife, Win, who he met at the club.

He continued to play in the premier division until he was in his fifties, playing for Lower Hardres.

His greatest love, however, was cricket and he was proud of a photograph, published in the Gazette, of him and Win watching Sir Donald Bradman leaving the pavilion to bat at his last game at Canterbury in 1948.

For many years Ron was the secretary of Lower Hardres and Nackington Cricket Club, compiling the fixture list and ensuring the team had a full complement. The ground was always in good order.

He was particularly pleased when his sons went to the Simon Langton school in the mid-1960s as this gave him the opportunity of tapping into the availability on a Sunday of several of the school’s stars, including Richard Legg, Frank Savage and Patrick Polden.

He was an active member of the working party which arranged the transfer of the Street End clubhouse to the present site in the 1970s.

He also played cricket for the Unpredictables and Royal British Legion in the Canterbury Evening League.

Ron was a more than useful badminton and squash player and in 1976 he took up golf and joined Canterbury Golf Club, playing in the seniors’ section for their matches throughout Kent.

After his retirement in 1985 as station administrative officer of Richborough Power Station, he became a member of Canterbury Bowling Club where he won the men’s singles bowls championship in 1998 at the age of 70. In the winter he played indoor bowls at Whitstable.

Apart from three years away on National Service between 1946 and 1949 and four years in Canada between 1957 and 1962, Ron lived all his life in Canterbury.

His death on Saturday, December 30, came just one day before he and Win were due to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary.

He leaves Win, his two sons, Stephen and Richard, two daughter-in-laws and five grandchildren.

His funeral will take place at Barham Crematorium at 1.20pm on Tuesday, January 23.

Ron Thomas was an enthusiast for many sports