A HUGE turnout of national and local bowlers is expected at Southend Crematorium next Wednesday when the funeral of one of the sport's top names takes place.

International player Richard Hart, from Hockley, died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 52 and the service will take place at noon.

Richard was inspired to take up bowls when, as a 13-year-old, he saw one of the sport's best-known names, David Bryant, in action. His own career got under way when family holidays at Hastings coincided with the Sussex town's open tournament.

He joined the Barking Borough Bowling Club at 16 and never looked back.

He went on to enjoy a career at national, international and local level, which included his first outdoor county singles championship in 1987.

Around that time he became a badged Essex player, both indoors and outdoors, and was selected for the prestigious Liberty Trophy. He reached the Champion of Champions final in 1984.

A memorable moment came when he finally beat his idol, Bryant, in the Ely Masters and picked up a cash prize of £2,000 for winning the national Champion of Champions crown in 1990.

During the Nineties, Richard began to cut down on his outdoor bowling. He told friends he "enjoyed summer holidays for the first time in years" - but still won the county singles title for the second time in 1993.

By that time Richard was a successful member of the Southend-based Essex County Bowls Club.

Richard concentrated his efforts on the indoor game, winning the Essex singles title 17 times in 27 years.

That's a record unlikely to ever be beaten and Richard was given the trophy he'd collected so often to keep. From now on it will be known as the Richard Hart Trophy.

Richard leaves his wife Nora and daughters Melissa, 14, and Lauren 12.

He worked for Network Rail for the past seven years, after spending 25 years with Eagle Star.

The family have requested no flowers for the funeral, but that donations should be made to MacMillan Nurses or Cancer Research.