A LAWN bowler who was ‘feared on the greens’ has died, aged 98.

Tributes have been paid to Sarah Pennington, a former Blackburn Ladies Open Champion, who was a mainstay for the Corporation Park and East Lancs clubs in the 1970s and 80s.

Mrs Pennington, who was better known as ‘Sadie’, began bowling with her husband Richard after he retired, and soon became known for her smart appearance and being a ‘stickler for getting things right’.

The couple lived in Inkerman Street and first joined Corporation Park Bowling Club, where Mrs Pennington became a key part of a ladies team which dominated in the early 1980s, also becoming Blackburn’s ladies champion. They later moved to Cheltenham Road and joined the East Lancs Sports Club.

Janet Pomfret, secretary of the East Lancs bowls section, said: “Sadie was a terrific asset and a great boost to the club.

“She was extremely well known on the Blackburn bowling scene and was a real lady, if I can put it like that, as she was always very sporting and played fairly.

“She had no airs and graces, but everything had to be right with her and she did things properly.”

Son Harry, 70, said: “Mum worked at Ewood Fashions so she was always very smart. She was a stickler for getting things right and a very talented bowler. I think she was feared on the greens.”

Mrs Pennington, also mum to Lois, 75, and Alan, 72, moved to sheltered accom-modation in Whalley after her husband died in 1989.

She suffered from dementia in later life and moved to Old Gates residential home in Feniscowles, where she died on New Year’s Eve.

Her funeral is due to take place at 12.15pm today at St Mary’s and All Saints Church in Whalley, followed by cremation at Pleasington at 1.30pm. There will then be a gathering at Blackburn Golf Club.