The 8th September arrives and it is the Friends Game against Waddesdon B.C. in Buckinghamshire for their 100 year anniversary. Waddesdon village is the home of a large stately home owned by the Rothschilds and the bowls club was reached by entering large black and gold entrance gates and past security into the small sports complex of bowls, cricket and tennis in the grounds. We received a very pleasant welcome from the chairman and captain of the club with hot and cold drinks available.
Once everyone had arrived and team cards completed then onto the green. The afternoon began with a a spider which was won by our own Margaret Annetts.
Onto the game – the green looked good but we warned that it could be tricky from those Friends who had played the previous day against Disability Bowls, and it was. Having said that we were still able to have a very pleasant game and conversation with our opponents between bowls. We had two rinks where the Friends had a very good start and kept the lead till the end, the other 4 rinks were nip and tuck all the way through the game and Friends had an overall win of 116 to 82.
After the game into the clubhouse for welcome drinks, sandwiches and cakes, all gratefully received. Conversations continued on all the tables until the inevitable speeches. Captain Laurence welcomed their visitors and thanked all his team for the work they had put in for putting on the game. I then thanked the club for inviting Friends to celebrate their100 years, Waddesden BC have been on this particular green for 90 years – the past Lord took a lot of interest in the sports clubs on his land.
Friends had a Top Rink of Jenny Ralph, Michael Jackson, Sue Skerry and Gerald Webb. Waddesdon’s Top Rink were Sandra C, Paul T, June and Gary.
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- Waddesden’s Top Rink
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- Friends Top Rink
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- Captain Laurance receiving Friends from our CoD Mike Bertrand
A raffle wound up the afternoon, and I had the honour of picking out the first ticket which turned out to be one of mine, for which I got a lot of stick. Goodbyes were exchanged, and we were homeward bound. Several Friends had enjoyed the two-day break and now had quite a journey. Eleven counties were represented in all.
Once again it was another great day playing for the Friends.
Michael Bertrand
Captain of the Day