Joan Sparkes

Joan Emily Sparkes, born Joan Emily Southgate in Brightlingsea, Essex, on 25 July 1916, was an English international lawn bowls competitor. She married Leslie A. Sparkes, a county player and butcher, in 1938, was introduced to the sport by him and took up bowls in 1954 at Burnham-on-Crouch. Bowling for Essex she won the triples at the England Women's National Championships in 1966 and 1972. In 1973 she won the silver medal in the fours and a bronze in the team event, the Taylor Trophy, at the World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Wellington, and in 1977 another fours silver in Worthing with Margaret Lockwood, Joan Hunt and Mabel Darlington.