COUNTLESS friends in the world of sport are mourning the death of a well-known personality whose contribution to rugby and bowling was life-long.

Ernest Halton (67), of Windle, died in Whiston Hospital on Saturday after battling against cancer for five months. He leaves his widow Margaret, sons Mark and David, and grandchildren Lucy and Grace.

A winger with Liverpool City in the 1950s, he was a team-mate of locals such as Ray Ashby, George Walker, Bill Adair and Walter 'Dollar' Parkes, and remained a staunch member of the Knotty Ash club's past players' association.

Ernie also turned out for Warrington and scored nine tries in five games, while his greatest claim to fame was that Saints' great Tom Van Vollenhoven remained tryless against him.

A native of Raglan Street and son of old-time Rec's star Jack Halton, he later became coach of Ruskin Park RFC and was secretary of St. Helens Bowling League, for whom he wrote a weekly column in the Star

Away from sport, Ernie's other great joy in life was his teaching role with handicapped children at Ashtons Green School, Parr.