THE death of Ronnie Morris is a huge blow to the future well-being of amateur sport in the Radcliffe and Bury area.
This is a man who devoted six decades of his life to furthering not only the active participation in a variety of sports by people of all abilities but, more importantly, in imparting the idea that whatever the game it should always be played in the true Corinthian spirit.
His philosophy that playing was more important than winning was never better illustrated than in the mid-1960s when he ran the less than successful Morris's X1 in the Radcliffe Sunday Schools League.
On one occasion, having helped to hand out a 13-0 thrashing to his side, I had the youthful temerity to suggest he and his team might find something better to do with their time on a Saturday afternoon.
It was only later that I was mature enough to understand - and respect - just what it was that motivated Ronnie Morris.
Death is always untimely, but Ronnie Morris's was particularly so because strenuous efforts were being made to have his contribution to local amateur sport recognised through the Honours system.
BILL ALLEN Ainsworth
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