Saturday 8th July 2023:
The first of two matches in Gloucestershire took place at Frampton on Severn B.C. who are celebrating their Centenary this year. The club was founded in 1923 as part of the sports facilities provided by Cadbury’s for the workers at their newly built factory in Frampton, and the club became Frampton on Severn Bowling Club when the members purchased the green from Cadbury’s when the factory closed in 1982.
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- President making us Welcome
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- Captains calling out the Rinks
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- Top Rink for Friends
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- Top Rink for Frampton
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- Certificate Time
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- and then the rain came – post match
Sadly for the Friends all traces of Cadbury stock had long vanished, but the welcome from the club President and members was warm and the buffet lunch much appreciated.
The weather prospects were mixed and the game was interrupted for a short time while a heavy shower passed through. Despite the rain, the green bowled very well and an enjoyable game resulted in a 12 shot win for the friends, winning on four of the six rinks. As the last players left the green the heavens opened and the deluge turned the green into a lake within ten minutes. Thankfully everyone was inside the clubhouse taking photographs!
After a splendid meal prepared by the ladies of the club, featuring some of the best cooked ham we had ever tasted, the home captain Richard and Friends captain of the day Graham rewarded their respective top rinks, while those who had been less successful received some Cadbury’s chocolate as encouragement. For the record, Mary, Dave, Tom and Maggie took the honours for Frampton, with Lesley, Anne, Graham and (for the third match running) Mike doing likewise for the Friends.
Thanks were expressed to everyone at the club who had contributed to a great occasion.
A very enjoyable day in a lovely part of Gloucestershire ended with a paddle back to the car park as the downpour had left everywhere looking like the nearby canal, and the nearby M5 resembled a lake when we set off on our homeward journeys.
Graham Annetts