A CHAMPION Blackburn bowler devoted to her family has lost her battle with cancer.

Lilian Slinger died, aged 81, on Friday. She was diagnosed with an incurable rare bone cancer in November.

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Her daughter Janet Monk, 58, has paid tribute to her mother, and all she had done in bowls and with her family.

Janet said: “She was a character on the green, always helpful and smiling, and she had a zest for life. Her nickname was Lil the Legend. She was a remarkable woman, a great champion, and above all totally devoted to her family.”

Lilian was born and bred in Blackburn, before moving to the Isle of Man in 1999 to be with her family.

She had four children — Janet, Christine, Peter and Paul — 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

While housewife Lilian was a woman of many talents including dress-making, knitting and embroidery, bowling was a lifelong passion.

She started bowling competitively in her late 40s and was a member of the Green Park club for many years, conquering all the competitions before her.

Her children have followed in her footsteps in taking up bowls, and Janet won a doubles competition with her mother.

Janet said: “She was friendly but very competitive. She won basically everything there was in Blackburn. She ended up being handicapped out of competitions because she won so many.

“I know there are many bowlers who would like to know about what has happened and pay tribute.”

Lilian also competed for the Witton Inn and Highfield clubs, Blackburn, before moving to the Isle of Man, where she competed at county level. She was still bowling until September.

Janet is now planning future tributes for her mother and has thought about holding a memorial bowls competition in her name.