Tributes paid to Llanelli Bowling Club stalwart who has passed away
Dylan Williams was described as a 'great bowler' who battled Motor Neurone Disease bravely over recent years
Llanelli Bowling Club has been devastated by the passing of one of its most respected players after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Dylan Williams (pictured above) was praised by fellow members as being not only an outstanding player for club and county, but as "one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet."
Mr Williams, who lived in Dafen, had been involved in bowls for more than 30 years and passed away, on Wednesday, July 27, aged 60.
The club in Old Road, is the oldest in the Llanelli area and members play flat green lawn bowls in the Llanelli and District and the Welsh Private Greens leagues.
Over the years, Mr Williams had also been a member of Llanelli Indoor Bowling Club and Swansea's indoor club, as well as playing rugby and cricket as a youngster.
His name appears on several club and county trophies, most notably winning the Welsh Indoor Bowling Association Fours tournament in 2017 and representing Wales in the British Isles Championships in Scotland the following year.
He also represented Carmarthenshire at county level and had been the side's captain.
Llanelli Bowling Club's fixture secretary Peter Dunkley paid tribute to Mr Williams and said:
"A legend in the sport of bowls has left us, never to be forgotten. He treated all of his opponents with the greatest respect, no matter what their ability, friends or not, they would often suffer the consequences of his great ability to play the game he loved.
"Unfortunately, two years ago, at the age of 58, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, but he continued to play brilliantly.
"After losing the power of speech he either communicated with a small whiteboard or by using his own type of sign language, he was an integral member of the Llanelli Four that won the County Senior Fours title in 2021."
Following his diagnosis, he was selected for the Team Wales para squad, and set to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games currently taking place in Birmingham.
However, his condition steadily deteriorated, leaving him with the painful decision to withdraw from the team earlier this year.
Mr Dunkley added: "As Team Wales arrived in Birmingham for the start of the games, he gently passed away.
"Over the last two years his colleagues, friends and family have raised thousands of pounds in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association to benefit research to help others."
The funeral will be at Llanelli Crematorium on Friday, August 12, at 12noon, followed by refreshments at the Bryn and Trallwm Club in Gelli Road.
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