Ex chairman passes away

MEMBERS of Southport and Birkdale Sports Club were saddened this week to hear of the death of Frank Roberts, a former chairman and honorary life member of the club.

Roberts was chairman from 1984 until 1990 and undoubtedly his major contribution in that time was to play a leading role in the discussions that led to

Birkdale Lawn Tennis Club moving to Trafalgar Road in

1989. S&B was not in robust shape at the time and without the welcome arrival of the tennis players the club would not be the vibrant place it is today, nor would it have experienced the steady improvement in its finances.

But Frank Roberts’ work for S&B was not confined to committee rooms. He was an enthusiastic supporter of all the club’s sports, although his first love was probably cricket.

He umpired second eleven matches and it was difficult not to warm to an official who once admitted he could not give a stumping because he had dozed off at the crucial moment.

Roberts was also a gregarious man who was not slow to express an opinion.

However, if he was occasionally quick to anger, he was equally swift in making peace and resuming a friendship over a pint.

No one who watched the then Five Nations Rugby with Frank was in any doubt he was a proud Welshman and it was no surprise when he and his wife, Anne, eventually retired to Penmaenmawr on the North Wales coast. However, Frank regularly returned to Trafalgar Road for county matches and also made the short trip to Colwyn Bay whenever an S&B team was playing at Penrhyn Avenue.

He particularly liked to find out how the cricket was going and was always keen to hear news about the club to which he had contributed so much.