A BOWLING-MAD businessman has died four years after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given ‘six months to live’.
John Payne died aged 70 last Monday. He had spent some time in Barnsley Hospice suffering with end stage liver disease, but died at his home in West Moor Crescent, Pogmoor.
He was well-known in the 1970s and 80s for his Barnsley chop which he cooked when he was steward at the Tappers at Dodworth.
He later moved into retail, running successful newsagents’ businesses at Redbrook, Dodworth, and the one adjoining his home at Pogmoor known for many years as Centre Point.
Daughter Natalie Parkes said: “I got married four years ago. We organised the wedding quickly because I wanted him to walk me down the aisle. We thought he was only going to have six months but we got four years.”
Natalie said her dad had been a well-known character in the town through his various business interests over the decades, but would probably be best remembered for his love of crown green bowling.
He played at Dodworth, Shaw Lane and more recently at Dearne Sports bowling clubs, and often sponsored cups and competitions.
John was born at Dodworth and went to Keresforth Road School. He left school at 16 to work in the family business H E Payne and Sons shoe shop, on High Street, Dodworth. After selling the newsagents he returned to the shoe shop, started by his grandfather in 1923, and his son Matthew is now at the helm.
He leaves a wife, Beverley, three children Natalie, Jamie and Matthew, and grandson Eathan.
His funeral will take place at Grenoside Crematorium on Friday, June 8, at 2pm. People are asked to wear bright colours or bowling shirts.
