It is with great sadness that Bowls England announces the passing of Norma Hazzledine MBE.
Norma made a significant and lasting contribution to the sport of bowls as both a player and an administrator at county and international level. Throughout this time, she displayed an abiding passion and personal commitment to championing equality for women in our sport and broadening the opportunities for younger people.
Her efforts over three decades earned her an MBE for Services to Bowls in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021 and Norma was made a Life Member of Bowls England in 2018 in recognition of her huge contribution.
On the green Norma was an accomplished England International, collecting 24 caps between 1994 and 2000, and achieving a bronze medal in the 1994 Atlantic Rim Games. It was off the green that she had the greatest impact.
Upon taking up the sport in the late 1980s, Norma immediately realized there was a problem with the structure of her local county’s competitions with all events during the day. She helped to form Derbyshire County Women’s Bowls Association in 1989 and immediately developed a competition structure that enabled working and young women in education to play competitive bowls at the highest level. Thanks to her determination, Derbyshire has an impressive record of internationals, both men and women, at senior and junior levels. Four of the Internationals have represented England at Commonwealth Games, World Bowls and Atlantic Games.
After a spell as EWBA President in 1994, she played a pivotal role in the staging of the 1996 Women’s World Bowls Championships and, perhaps most proudly, she took on the role of Competition Manager for the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. She went on to perform the same role at the 2004 Women’s World Bowls Championships, the last World Bowls event on home soil. This penchant for running events would see her become Director of International Events on the Bowls England Board in 2009, where she oversaw three Commonwealth Games’ cycles.
Norma’s commitment to encourage young bowlers saw her become Chair of the English Bowls Youth Development Scheme. The scheme that was established to promote bowls to both genders aged 10-18, allowing access to coaching, developmental competitions and international competition that had not previously been available to younger players. Norma also served as Bowls England’s representative on the Board of the Bowls Development Alliance as part of her ongoing desire to increase participation in the sport.
David Tucker, Bowls England Chair, said: “Norma was a genuine trailblazer for our sport. Her drive and determination to make bowls more accessible to women and young people was truly inspiring. She was a positive and enthusiastic leader, who always put our sport first, and she leaves both a lasting legacy and many fond memories for those who knew her. Our thoughts are with Norma’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
A minute’s silence was observed ahead of the start of play at the Aviva National Finals on 24th August.
A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at Bramcote Crematorium, Serenity Chapel on Monday 23rd September 2024 at 12 noon. All are welcome to attend.
After the service all are invited to The Erewash Indoor Bowls Club, Grange Park, Off Station Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 2EE.
Donations in her memory will benefit the continued works of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Any Enquiries to:
Kinton & Daughter Family Funeral Directors, Long Eaton Branch
Telephone: 0115 972 4555
Brief summary of Norma’s roles in the sport of Bowls
1988: Formed Derbyshire County Women’s Bowls Association
1991: Derbyshire County President
1994: EWBA President
1994-2000: International Player
1995: Player – Atlantic Rim Games, Durban, South Africa – Bronze Medal
1996: Joint Tournament Director with Mavis Steele MBE – Women’s World Bowls – introduced the first computerised scoring system used in the sport of Bowls in the British Isles
1997-2008: Headed Tournament Office at the EWBA National Championships on the death of Mavis Steele, MBE
2000-2002: Competition Manager, XVII Commonwealth Games in Manchester
2002-2006: Chair, English Bowls Youth Development Scheme
2004: Tournament Director – Women’s World Bowls, Leamington Spa
2008-2009: Development Committee – Bowls England
2009-2018: Director – International Events, Bowls England
2009-2018: Director (on behalf of Bowls England) – Bowls Development Alliance