Day 2: Friends v. BE President’s Select Team

We travelled as Friends, or BE players and supporters, from 14 different counties to West Bridgford to meet and play for the Ian Woodcock trophy, a beautiful cut glass claret jug which Ian, a former English Bowling president, donated to initiate our keenly contested match.

David (DKT), our BE President and the club made us very welcome. They helped to park our cars safely, had tea and coffee ready, the bar open and lunch prepared for us.

Well, had we all been good or was Satan looking after his own? Whatever, the sun shone on us with a temperature ideal to bowl in. So after a group photo, it was time to find the line and length on the green, which was fast.

l-r June, Meryl, Gill, Val, Pauline, Bridget

After the game, we found a very attractive cold meat and salad buffet ready for us, followed by cheese cake fancies and strawberries and cream. DKT thanked us all for coming, the club’s members for their help and his Captain of the day, Cathy. Out came the crocheted turtles and flowers as thank you gifts. Lovely individual gratuities. Top rink prizes were awarded by BE spoons and bottom rink prizes by New Aeros (chocolate bars, not bowls).

: Friends Top Rink

: BE President’s Top Rink

Kath, Friends Chair, responded thanking the catering members, bar staff and green keepers for their outstanding work.

Thank you, Alan

She gave a brief outline of what the Friends is all about and the enjoyment of putting a bit more back into the sport we all love. It all started in 2005 – cor, where has that time gone? As usual, for top rinks Kath gave out her homemade preserves… for Friends, Glyn, Kath, Mike and Andy, and for the President’s Select, Ian, Cathy, Brian and David. A framed Friends certificate was given to DKT as a personal reminder of his special day.

The raffle was drawn, the whiskey draw claimed and the spider’s whiskey auctioned.
Time to go home after a lovely day. The Friends won the match 84 to 73. DKT won for his humour and learning to play left handed.