Obituary – Donald Arthur Rae Charles – Donnie

The Sunnybrae club has lost one of its most prominent members, with the passing on August 27 of Donald Arthur Charles Rae.

A book-binder by trade, Donnie, as he was always known, was aged 92.

Though he started bowls at the Glenfield club, Donnie was a foundation member of Sunnybrae when it started in 1982, and became a president of both the men’s and combined club and was made a life member.

Fellow life member and close friend Ron Watts paid tribute to the service Donny gave to both the game and to club. “He did just about everything at the club and he played at a range of other clubs both at North Harbour and in Auckland,” he said.  And together he and Watts were regular visitors to the Taranaki fours.

Though never a centre champion, he was a competent bowler and one who always played the game in the right spirit. He won 13 club titles and was 10 times a championship runner-up.