A popular and well-liked former West Cumbrian sportsman has died aged 90.
Ian Coles played for Whitehaven; was a pigeon fancier and respected official in Workington and was a single figure golfer playing into his 80s.
He started in the local Cumberland amateur rugby league with Risehow and Gillhead where his consistently good form saw him called up to the county side and then he was capped by England at Under-19s level.
It was while playing for England that he was a member of the Under-19s team that defeated France for the first time on their own soil by 10-8 at Tarbes in April 1956.
Also playing for England on that occasion were fellow Cumbrians Louis Shepherd and John ‘Loppy’ Oneil who both turned pro respectively with Whitehaven and Workington.
Ian signed for Haven during the 1957/58 season and made his first team debut on April 18 1959 when Whitehaven lost by 19-29 at Oldham.
At the time Whitehaven had established players in Bill Smith and John McKeown occupying the wing and fullback positions where Ian had plied his trade in the amateurs so overall he played just 20 times for the senior side over four seasons and scored two tries.
His final first team game was at home to Swinton on September 23 1961.
Outside of rugby league, Ian initially worked as an apprentice draughtsman, but his real passion was mechanical engineering.
After successfully studying the subject at college he took on a new career as a lecturer at Workington Technical College.
He loved all sports and was a single handicap golfer who played well into his 80s.
But he was particularly well known in the world of pigeon racing, in partnership with the Anderson brothers who flew successfully in the Workington Social Limit club.
Ian held a variety of offices in the sport and current official and Workington fancier Les Blacklock said: “He was the Derwent Valley Federation chairman and on the Cumbria Region committee in the early seventies.
“He took me to my first Region meeting at Carlisle in 1974 and he also taught me at Workington College when I was an apprentice at Chapel Bank.
“Like many other people I regard him as a top man.”
Ian is survived by his son Graham and daughter Gillian and the funeral service will be held at Distington Crematorium on Tuesday, March 17 at 11.15am.
At Ian’s request, people are requested to wear something red.
