KENT COUNTY SHORT MAT BOWLING
ASSOCIATION
Affiliated to English Short Mat Bowling
Association
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Date of last update: 16 August 2009
Ted Messer. 5th May 1935 – 24th
May 2009
I would like to thank you for asking me to
write something about Ted Messer. Most of your readers will know Ted, he was a
former Kent Chairman, Kent President, Kent Squad Manager, England Vice Chairman
and England Manager. He sadly passed away on the 24th May 2009. He
followed the equally sad passing of his Wife Una late in 2008 after a lengthy
illness.
Ted was one of the original ‘band of
brothers’ who helped create the Kent County Short Mat Bowling Association;
their original work created the template that Kent now follows. Bowling in Kent
originally started in another form ‘The London & South East Bowling
Association’ and as a consequence of some ruling disputes with regards disabled
bowlers and their position behind the fender the current KCSMBA was born. A small band of players and clubs in the
Maidstone area got together and put together the foundations of the current
Maidstone Triples league and the Kent County Association. The plans finally
came to fruition in 1988 when the very first ‘open’ county competitions took
place. Ted led the County by becoming our first Chairman; a role he relished
with energy and passion.
The bigger national picture soon cascaded
into Kent with the England squad visiting in Easter 1989…..I seem to remember
that this was an England team headed by you Bob! Again, Ted took a leading role
in the form of Kent Team Manager. This obviously ‘lit the torchpaper’ for Ted
as he then found his loved place within bowls and he soon started to
concentrate his efforts in the development of the County Team. In 1992 Kent
entered into a County competition called the South East Region winning in style
by topping the league in their first effort; this was run alongside the ESMBA
Inter County Championship. However due to Kent’s late entry we were unable to
play in the ESMBA competition so could progress no further. In 1993 Ted’s team
fully took part and qualified into the ICC ¼ final playing Merseyside away;
this was Kent’s first taste of bowls in the ‘North’. We were easily beaten by
14 games to 2….sorry I can’t remember how the scoring was done back then!
The following season Ted and Kent learnt
from their previous year and won their first ICC Championship; the first of 6
victories under Ted’s leadership. This entitled Kent to play in the inaugural
‘Champions v Champions’ competition when Kent played in Redditch against the
current Irish champions Western Zone; sadly for Ted defeat followed. However,
many happy memories were taken by those involved and I know this was a pinnacle
for Ted at this time.
Ted had bowls in his every bone by now,
steadily winning domestic competitions in Kent. This should be highlighted to
the many bowlers who met and played under him in the national team and those
who played against him on the ‘circuit’. I am sure many did not appreciate his
prominence in the countries most successful county. Between 1989 and 2006 he
consistently competed in 19 domestic finals. Until very recently this was
Kent’s top individual achievement.
Ted also became involved in the ESMBA when
he joined their management team as Vice Chairman and then more latterly as the
England Team Manager; he racked up many successes at International level but
never quite managed to secure the elusive International team event.
In a bowling sense I have seen first hand
how Ted worked, he was competitive, passionate, ambitious and single minded. He
was stern, strict and motivated whenever he wore the Kent Managers shirt; I
believe he took these traits into the England team as well. I was not always his
best fan; however, we always had a mutual respect for each other playing
together in what was Kent’s hey day squad and team.
There is no doubt in my mind that our
county and sport has lost an ambassador of the game; and on a personal note as
Chairman I would like to say how much I will miss his counsel, knowledge and
support.
Perhaps Ted was the Marmite of the bowls
world; all who knew him would either loath or love him. Both will no doubt miss
him.
I hope this tells something of Ted from one
of the few Kent players who travelled the long bowling road with him from our
counties inception to today. I would
like to repeat what was written on the ESMBA website as I believe it was a
perfect description in a short and concise message:-
“He will be sadly missed & leaves an
indelible mark on those who knew him”
Tim Rycraft
KCSMBA Chairman
Also read about Ted’s
best moments as England Team Manager. Click here
Click
on links below for information required: