Royal Wootton Bassett and the ‘Friends’line up before the match
On Thursday, June 8th ‘Friends’ from eleven counties made their way to Royal Wootton Bassett Bowls Club to help them celebrate their 90th birthday.
Colin and Julie the happy couple behind the bar
We were greeted with most welcome cups of tea or coffee – well appreciated after the journey down (or up) to Wiltshire.
The rain held off and at times the sun even came out to welcome us,
After a buffet lunch the players went out onto the green and the President Hedley Bowen, welcomed us all to the club and wished us an enjoyable afternoon.
President Hedley Bowen, Captain of the Day Cyndy Lee and Chairman Ian Tanner reading out the teams
This was followed by a spider, won by Mike Morris from the Friends.
The players trying to find their bowls, after the spider, which raised £50 for charity.
The game was played in a great spirit and laughter could be heard all over the green. The score at the end of the game was 121 to the home team and 90 to the Friends……….but using Stuart Lakes method of adding up this means that 1+2+1=4 and 9+0=9. So the Friends win.
The Royal chefs – yes they have cooked for royalty – served us a delicious meal with a great choice of deserts and a cheese board with nine varieties of cheese.
Ginny, Barbara, Graham and Joe – the Royal chefs
Speeches then took place. Ian Tanner for the club and Cyndy Lee for the Friends. Top rink prizes were presented amidst lots of hilarity. The raffle then took place raising further funds for charity.
Chairman Ian being presented with a memento of the day
The club has over 140 members among them are 15 Middleton cup players and they also won the Senior Men’s fours last year at Leamington. The club is open all year and they play Bingo, Skittles and this year they are going to introduce short mat bowling. They also encourage the junior bowlers and recently had 24 juniors, aged 4 to 12 playing. The youth of today are our future and should be encouraged as much as possible.
Days like this do not just happen and I would like to thank everyone concerned for all the planning that went in to making this such an enjoyable day for the Friends and visitors. We are looking forward to a return visit in 10 years time – or maybe 5 – to help you, once again, celebrate an anniversary.