We are sad to announce the loss of our former Vice Chairman and long standing member Frank MacFarlane who passed away on Friday 11th February. We send our condolences to all his family.
Barry Ritchie
Chairman
Frank was born in Liverpool seventy seven years ago, he went to New College Worcester and then on to teachers’ training college., He taught for many years at St. Vincent’s School for the Blind in Liverpool.He entered into blind golf in a novel way. His wife, Julia, contacted a television show called Surprise Surprise hosted by Cilla Black which took on unusual challenges including one which was a challenge to teach a blind person to play golf.
An intensive course of lessons with golf professional Bob Boobyer ensued at Hoylake Municipal Golf Club, a venue of a lot of our tournaments in those days, and culminated in Frank and a couple of other members of English Blind Golf as it was then called, playing a match with Nick Faldo at Wentworth Golf Club.
Frank was an active member of E.W.B.G for many years serving as Vice-Chairman for three years. He also served as Chairman of British Blind Sport in its early days.
Frank loved all sport. He was still an active blind cricketer despite having a shoulder replacement some five years ago and was a passionate supporter of both Liverpool Football Club and Lancashire Cricket Club.
Away from sport frank was an excellent musician and played the organ at his local church and the piano at many a sing-song in the bar.
He leaves a wife Julia, daughter Susan and grand- daughter Thea.
