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Tribute to a Gentleman

By Elizabeth Lightowlers/ Plympton Bowling Club

Monday, 7 February 2022

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Plympton Bowling Club Contributor

VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR

DICK INGERSON A Tribute from his friend Derek Scantlebury

DICK AND I BECAME FRIENDS ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO WHEN WE BOTH JOINED ELFORDLEIGH GOLF CLUB, AND PLAYED TOGETHER ALL OVER DEVON FOR 36 YEARS. WE THEN JOINED PLYMPTON BOWLING CLUB, PLYMOUTH CHESS CLUB, THE LOCAL SNOOKER CLUB AND EVEN IN OUR EIGHTIES, HAVING BEEN KEEN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS, WE JOINED PLYMOUTH TABLE TENNIS CLUB AND PLAYED THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

DICK’S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN HIS SPORTING LIFE WAS TO HAVE SCORED TWO ‘HOLES-IN-ONE’ IN THE SAME ROUND AT ELFORDLEIGH, A FEAT WITH ODDS OF TENS OF MILLIONS TO ONE, AND I HAD AN INSCRIBED PLATE MADE, TELLING OF THE FEAT, THAT I SECURED TO A TREE ADJACENT TO THE GREEN WHERE HIS GOLF BALL WENT TWICE INTO THE HOLE IN ONE SHOT IN THE SAME ROUND. A SLIGHT BOAST OF MINE WHEN HE REMINDED ME THAT HE HAD SCORED A TOTAL OF FIVE ‘HOLES-IN-ONE’ TO MY FOUR, WAS FOR ME TO REMIND HIM THAT HE WAS ONLY THE SECOND BEST ‘SHUV-HALFPENNY’ PLAYER IN THE WORLD.

I SHALL MISS DICK AS A GOOD FRIEND WHO MADE MY ENJOYMENT OF SPORT EXTRA SPECIAL, HE WAS A GENTLE MAN AND I WAS GLAD TO HAVE KNOWN HIM.

People liked him, not because he was rich or known to fame,

‘Richard’ was to Val, his wife, but to us ‘Dick’ was his name.

Never arrogant or proud, humble, never boastful he,

Never quarrelsome or loud, sort of man you’d like to be.

Wasn’t one to boast of gold, nor belittle it with sneers,

Didn’t change from hot to cold, kept his friends throughout the years,

Sort of man you’d like to be, balanced well and truly square,

Patient in adversity, generous when his skies were fair,

Never rose to wealth or fame, simply lived and simply died,

But the passing of his name leaves a sorrow far and wide,

Not for glory he’d attained, nor for what he had of pelf,

Were the friends that he had made, but for what he was himself.

Goodbye ‘Good friend’, Rest in peace.

Derek Scantlebury.

Dick was my partner in the Ladies Invitation competion for many years, always offered me encouragement, a great partner to have in the game and a true gentleman. RIP Dick, you will not be forgotten. Elizabeth Lightowlers

Contact Information

Elizabeth Lightowlers/

Find Plympton Bowling Club

Harewood Park, Plympton, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 2AS

DIRECTIONS

Additional Information

You will find the carpark between the Library and Harewood House, we are on the right. Alternative parking can be obtained adjacent to the Swimming Pool and use our rear entrance.