The new year was touched with sadness at the death of Stanley Lincoln, a member of the Association for 50 years. Stan was 89 and passed away in a nursing home in Watford after a long illness. Our sympathies go to his widow, Florence, son, Peter, and three grandchildren. The funeral service was due to take place at West Herts Crematorium on Friday 23 January, 2004

Stan, the long-time correspondent for the PA, joined the Association in 1953. He was the second longest serving member after John Baker. John, who is 94 and joined the Association in 1946, was good friends with Stan throughout their careers. He kindly provided this appreciation:

“Stan Lincoln – My Old Buddie” by John Baker

I must say here and now that Stan was the most dedicated and loyal man in his job I have ever known in my 50 years in Fleet Street. I first met Stan way back in the late twenties when he was a young uniformed messenger boy in the General Sports Dept. of the Press Association where I was a junior reporter in the same department.

He eventually came out of uniform and began doing the odd reporting job in sport. In time he became the right hand assistant to the PA No. 1 Graham Emery and covered most golf events and championships up and down the country. With the passing of Graham Emery, Stan took over his job and remained there for the rest of his career. By this time I had joined ExTel Sports with golf being my main job. However, Stan, like myself, was an all-rounder and we frequently bumped into each other apart from at golf events.

In a way Stan and I were almost inseparable throughout the year and were always prepared to help one another if and when occasion arose. Although, of course, we were employed by rival agencies we were not, shall I say, opponents. Stan was a good friend and we thoroughly understood each other in our respective jobs, never once having course to show any indifferences to each other. I saw him grow up, it was likewise him with me. Farewell, my Old Buddie. Rest in Peace.

Peter Lincoln, Stan’s son, has kindly provided more details on his father’s life and career:

Born 25 April 1914 in Poplar to Edith and Henry Lincoln of 18 Blair Street, Poplar. Stanley’s father died after a fall into a barge’s hold on the River Thames when he was about six years old, leaving his mother to bring up his younger sister Phyllis and older brother Harry. Attended Culloden Street School, Poplar. Where he was good at athletics winning medals for 100 yards and relay in the East London Sports at Victoria Park.

On leaving school his class master, E.Peal wrote, dated 4 April 1928: “Stanley Lincoln has been at school for 7 years. He has always been a regular and punctual. We have found him to be eminently honest and thoroughly reliable. He has worked well and hard both in school and at games. He is an extremely good athlete and will be of great assistance to any club at running, football and cricket. We recommend him with fullest confidence that he will prove a most capable and trustworthy employee.”

On leaving school at 14 years old he joined the Press Association in Fleet Street, London as Messenger Boy. Mr Matherson the Sports Editor took a liking to him and offered him a position as a telephone messenger for I think Morris Hart – Archie Quick. Where he learnt his journalistic trade, including short hand, that held him in good stead for future years. He covered General Sports i.e. athletics, seven day cycling events, boxing, billiards, ice hockey etc. At the retirement of the then Golf Correspondent he was offered his position which he held till his retirement at 64 years old in 1978. He went for a position as the BBC television presenter of their golfing programme. He declined the invitation, as it was too much indoors, he liked to be outside. The position that Peter Alliss now holds.

He married Florence Merrell on 22 March 1941 and they enjoyed 62 years together. They moved to Bushey in 1941, living in Ashdon Road, where in January 1948 they had a son Peter John, later moving to Park Avenue. Peter married Doreen in December 1971 and had three sons Christopher – 1977, Gareth – 1978 and Nicholas – 1981. Christopher is now married to Kathryn (Kay) – 2002, baby due 2004.

He served in the forces during the Second World War 1940-1946. In the Royal Signals, 8th Army Desert Rats in North Africa etc. A period of his life that he always wished to forget.

Looking through his address book there are many famous sports people listed in both golf and snooker. Hence the depth of his contacts and acquaintances is very impressive. Looking also at his diaries, a typical journalist, all the entries are in short hand and impossible to read. We will never learn the secrets they hold. He has collected many thousands of golf press cuttings taking up a whole cupboard – to someone a good basis for a book. He was a hoarder, as are his son and grandsons, everything and anything has a use, purpose and reason to be retained.

After his retirement he became an ardent golfer himself playing at Porters Park on a regular basis until his Pagets Disease made it to difficult and painful to play. To keep up his fitness he would be seen walking round the block, as he called it, till he had a mild stroke, but even after this he would still try and complete his circuit.

He later on had an embolism and was back in hospital. We tried to nurse him at home, till he deteriorated again and went back in to hospital and finally to River Court Nursing Home. The staff there looked after him brilliantly and superbly till he passed away on Tuesday 6 January2004. He will be surely missed and for some he will be remembered forever.