The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Loss of a local darts legend as Paddy Reeson passes away
Darts - Tribute to a lovely lady
The local darts scene is mourning the loss of a legend following the death of Paddy Reeson.
Paddy, who was one of the biggest characters in the sport for over five decades, passed away peacefully at Longueville Court Nursing Home last week.Shewas86andhadbeen battling dementia for the last couple of years.
Paddy devoted her whole life to the game of darts. Her love of the board game blossomed in her early teen years after her mother and step-father took charge of the Durham Ox pub between Thorney and Crowland.
She threw her first dart at the tender age of 12 and more milestones soon followed.
She became the youngest ever participant in the old News Of The World tournament when taking to the oche in the 1950s and was a key part of the Cambridgeshire Ladies A team for their two British Inter-Counties Premier Division successes in 1989 and 1999.
She was also the non-playing England Ladies captain for eight years from 1995 to 2003 and led her country to stacks of honours. In fact, during her reign England were only ever beaten in one major competition.
Paddy was also chairman of the International Darts Players Association as well as vice-chairman for Cambridgeshire. She was also prominently involved with the local Peterborough Ladies League for over 30 years.
Three-times world champion Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams was a former county teammate of Paddy’s.
He said: “I played alongside Paddy for about 15 years and she was a great player. We played mixed doubles together and won the knockout competition three years on the spin, so we stopped to give the others a chance!
“She was a great humoured lady and it was always a pleasure and an honour to play with her. She did so much for the ladies game.”
Cambridgeshire chairman Peter Melton posted the following on the county’s Facebook page: “Paddy served the county as a player, ladies captain, selector and vice-chairman.
“I’m now in my 40th year with Cambridgeshire and there have been some fantastic players in that time and every now and then I try and think who would be in my alltime Cambridgeshire teams. It varies from time to time as I remember different players but Paddy’s name is always there. She was a fantastic player and more importantly one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet and work with.
“It is a sad day for Cambridgeshire darts as without doubt we have lost a legend who will be sadly missed by everyone who had the honour to have met her.”
The funeral service will take place at Peterborough Crematorium on Tuesday November 13 at 11.30am.