BOWLERS throughout Dorset, and many parts of the south and west of England, have been saddened by the death of Ben Baker – one of the county’s most enigmatic personalities.

He was banned from county competitions by Nottinghamshire County Bowling Association at the age of 10, adopted by Dorset at the age of 11, and became an England trialist by the age of 21.

At his prime Baker was probably one of the best Dorset bowlers never to play for England, and in a career spanning 62 years, his achievements were truly remarkable, and too numerous to fully catalogue.

He played Middleton Cup for Dorset on a record breaking 83 occasions, spread over 37 years, and also played Middleton Cup for Devon during a career move which saw him join Tiverton West End for six seasons.

Three consecutive Liberty Trophy finals, in a spell with Yeovil Indoor Bowls Club between 1978 and 1980, county singles champion on three occasions, winner of the county pairs, triples, fours, Denny Cup semi-finalist, past winner of Bournemouth Open – this is just a flavour of the diversity of his incalculable bowling accomplishments.

Ben’s father Alan Baker was a competent bowler himself and he responded to the interest that Ben had shown in the sport from the age of five.

As soon as Ben could hold a bowl – at the age of seven – he became inseparable from his father both on and off the local greens and indoor facilities, entering competitions together.

The problem was that Ben was proving to be too good.

Following a meeting of the Nottinghamshire Executive, Ben was told he could not enter county competitions until he was 15, but that was later revised when the English Bowling Association increased the minimum entry age to 18.

As a member of Beeston Bowls Club, Ben and his dad did however represent the club in matches and tournaments, and they were runners-up in the Blackpool Open Tournament in 1951 and Ben was now still only 11.

Bowls was still in a time warp just after the war, and young Ben had to be patient, and it was to his credit that he did not give up the game. One of the main reasons was the fact that he suffered from poor health and bowls was proving to be an ideal sport for him.

On the advice of the family doctor the Bakers moved from the industrial surroundings of the Midlands to the more attractive climate of Dorset.

On his arrival in Dorset in 1951, Ben and his dad soon joined Melcombe Regis Bowls Club, with Ben going on to win the club singles title at 16.

After turning 18, Ben won the county singles title when he beat Jock Smillie 21-7 and headed for the 1958 National finals at Mortlake.

Ben surprised the pundits and reached the semi-finals before losing to Frank Crockford from the Isle of Wight 21-15. In the same year Ben played his first game for his adopted county.

Over the next half a century Ben would play in 138 games for Dorset, bowing out against the Royal county of Berkshire.

At the age of 19, Ben made his Middleton Cup debut for Dorset, and two years later he won the county fours in 1960 before having his one and only England trial the following year. Much to his disappointment he under-performed on the day as lead.

No doubt had there been an Under-25 structure in those days Ben would have made the grade and may have got a second trial. After all he had beaten the legendary Percy Baker in the Bournemouth Open that year in a game Ben regarded as his finest.

Next season, 22-year-old Ben arrived in Tiverton to pursue his career as an accountant. He was soon playing for Devon, and landed the Devon county singles title as well as being a member of their Middleton Cup squad.

On his return to Dorset in 1967 he was back in action, performing for the county and winning county singles, pairs, triples and fours during a purple patch between 1975 and 1978.

Even with all these achievements Ben still had another quarter of a century in which to leave his indelible mark on bowls from Cornwall to Cumbria, from Somerset to Sussex.

He later moved to the Dorchester Bowling Club in the borough gardens and – in 1988 – Ben helped plan and build the present Dorchester Bowls Club at Fordington Fields, which opened in 1990.

In 1982 Ben married Sheila and although she was not a bowler then, it was not long before Mr and Mrs Baker were collecting trophies and influencing county bowls.

Indoor, Ben won the Denny Cup, Wessex League and Liberty Trophy, while outdoor success came via the County Cup, County League, county competitions and open tournaments.

As an icon of the sport that he loved, he made a host of friends, was well respected, and was a great ambassador for Dorset and bowls.

It was in 2005 that the wheel turned full circle. A 10-year-old barred by Nottinghamshire County Bowling Association was elected, at the age of 65, to the office of junior vice-president of the county that gladly adopted him as a highly talented 11-year-old.

Thankfully Ben, supported by Sheila, completed his presidential year in 2007, before failing health dictated that he continued to enjoy his bowls as a spectator.

His final viewing on the green was at the Dorchester Bowls Club just days before he died, where quite fittingly he saw wife Sheila finish her county triples match.

To those who had the privilege and pleasure of knowing, and bowling with him, Ben was bowls.