All of us at Tenby Bowling Club are shocked and immensely saddened by the sudden death of our friend, colleague and greenkeeper Chris Jenkins.

Chris spent over 30 years caring for the green in Sutton Street, a playing surface that is acknowledged as the best in Wales, testament to the many hours he worked on it in all weathers throughout the year. The superb quality of our green is what we're known for throughout the country, and that is all down to Chris. Tenby's success during this time in winning county titles, and more recently national championships, was Chris's triumph, as much as any player who took to the green.

The perfect surfaces that Chris single-handedly, and uncomplainingly, produced made us all better players and gave us the confidence to play good bowls all the time. Chris's part in our success was acknowledged a few years ago by the award of a life membership of the club, making him one of the very few non-bowlers to receive this. That's how much we thought of him.

We last saw Chris on Saturday morning, hosing his mower down after preparing perfect rinks yet again for the biggest day in our calendar: three finals, including the Gold Cup, that morning, and a crucial Carruthers Shield game later that afternoon.

He drove back to his beloved golf club, and that was that. It is difficult to comprehend that we will not see him - nor probably his like - ever again.

We send our sincere condolences to Chris's family, whose sadness will be even greater than ours.

Thanks for everything, Chris, from everyone in Sutton Street. We'll all miss you greatly.