Edwin Percy Baker

Edwin 'Percy' Baker simply known as Percy Baker (1895–1990), was a lawn and indoor bowler.

Edwin Percy Baker
Personal information
Nationality England
Born(1895-07-18)July 18, 1895
Weston-super-Mare
DiedJanuary 3, 1990(1990-01-03) (aged 94)
Poole
Sport
ClubPoole Park, Dorset (outdoors)
Bournemouth (indoors)
Medal record
Representing
Commonwealth Games
1958 Cardiff singles

Baker was regarded as the greatest English bowler until his records were broken by David Bryant.[1]

Born at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset he was a photographer by trade but was persuaded to take up bowling in 1921. He joined the Poole Park Bowling Club and was to win their club singles 22 times. He won 11 county singles over a 37-year period and led Dorset in the Middleton Cup from 1927 until 1969.[2]

He won four English National Singles titles in 1932, 1946, 1952 & 1955, setting a record at the time. He also won two pairs (1950 & 1962) and a triples (1960) at the National Bowls Championships.[3]

Capped by England in 1933,[4] it was not until 1949 that he established his place and captained England from 1950. After suffering a serious illness he recovered in time to represent England in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games where he won a silver medal in the singles.[5] [6]

Baker won the Bournemouth Open pairs at the age of 76 in 1971 before retiring because he was suffering from poor vision. He died in a Poole hospital on 3 January 1990 aged 94.[4] His son Cecil Baker also played lawn bowls representing the Ryde club at the Nationals.[7]

References
  1. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-414-3.
  2. Newby, Donald (1991). Percy Baker - a great bowler. Daily Telegraph. ISBN 0-330-31664-8.
  3. "Poole Park win title, Friday 18 August". Nottingham Journal. 1950.
  4. ""Percy Baker." Times, 10 Jan. 1990, p. 14". Times Digital Archives.
  5. "Profile". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  6. ""Empire Games Results." Times, 26 July 1958, p. 3". Times Digital Archives.
  7. ""Baker's son takes over." Times, 18 Aug. 1967, p. 10". Times Digital Archives.
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