'Diamond' who bowled over the rich and famous

Tributes are paid to Maurice Kays, a city bowling stalwart with a star-studded past.

He once mixed with the world's top movie stars but Maurice Kays, who died last Saturday aged 80, will be better known in Edinburgh for his involvement with bowling.

Mr Kays, who was born in London on Friday, July 13, 1928, was marketing manager for Odeon cinema between the 1950s and '80s and toured the UK with the top actors of the day on promotional visits.

It was on such a visit to Edinburgh for the James Bond film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, in 1969, that he met Lesley, the cinema's general manager, who was to become his wife 20 years later.

Just like Bond and Miss Moneypenny on screen, the pair maintained a working relationship through letters, phone calls and Mr Kays' promotional trips to Edinburgh but only went on their first date in 1989.

That year, the Odeon Evening News charity walk was promoted by Bond actress Caroline Munro, who was brought to Edinburgh by Mr Kays.

He took early retirement and moved to Edinburgh in 1990, before the couple married on May 24 that year at Kirk O' Field Parish Church on The Pleasance.

Mrs Kays today paid tribute to her late husband, describing him as a gentleman in every sense.

She said: "He was sensitive, kind, caring and loving. A friend of ours phoned after Maurice died and said Maurice was a diamond. I think that is very true."

As a school pupil, Mr Kays was to meet his first would-be celebrity, sharing a classroom with Barbara Windsor. Mrs Kays said he met all of his acting icons, except one.

She added: "He was sorry he never got to meet Sean Connery – but I did."

Mr Kays, who left school at the age of 14, was a talented sportsman. He was a boxer in his youth and a football referee until the age of 54, as well as supporting Tottenham Hotspur his whole life. But at the age of 40 he discovered bowls, at which his father had excelled.

He played for Clissold Park and Finsbury Park bowling clubs in London and, on moving to Edinburgh, joined Lutton Place Bowling Club, as Edinburgh Bowling Club had a waiting list to join.

He was accepted as an Edinburgh Bowling Club member in 1991. He went on to win many trophies and served as president in the club's 150th anniversary year in 1998.

But Mrs Kays said an announcement earlier this year that the club was to leave its leased premises off Meadow Lane was devastating news for her husband, who was also captain of the senior men's team for 15 years. He also served as a council member of the Scottish Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund.

Grahame Wear, former manager of Edinburgh's Odeon cinema, was a friend of Maurice's for 40 years. He said: "He should have written a book with all the stories he had on the movie stars. You name a top actor from that era and he will have met them.

"He had a great sense of humour and was the kindest and most caring I have ever known. He had a great way with people, which helped among temperamental film stars."

A funeral service was being held today at Warriston Crematorium's Lorimer Chapel at 2pm.