Haywards Heath – our Sussex break begins

Saturday 20th June 2026

Our Sussex trio of fixtures began today at the charming Haywards Heath Bowling Club, set in the beautiful Beech Hurst Gardens. With the miniature railway circling the green and views stretching towards the South Downs, it’s hard to imagine a more delightful setting for an afternoon of bowls.

We were warmly welcomed by President Jill Saunders, who shared the unfortunate news that Club Captain Jill Hatfield had broken her wrist the previous day. Stepping into the breach with good humour and calm authority was Basil Larkins. The Friends’ Captain of the Day was Carolyn Hunt.

The heat was just about manageable thanks to a gentle breeze drifting across the green. The match was played as Triples — a format the Friends don’t encounter too often — and the captains agreed on 18 ends, with a single shot on the first two. Throughout the afternoon we were accompanied by the cheerful rumble of the miniature train and its delighted passengers, many of whom waved enthusiastically as they trundled past. A lovely touch of theatre.

Despite winning only two of the six rinks, the Friends somehow engineered a 103–93 overall victory. A little Sussex magic, perhaps.

Top Rinks For the Friends, the standout performance came from Lois Hall, Walter Metcalf and skip Lindsay Banks, who secured an impressive 24–7 win. For Haywards Heath, the honours went to Jennie, Ted and skip (and Captain) Basil Larkins, finishing 21–11.

Each of the stars received a prickly cactus — a light‑hearted and memorable memento of the day.

After the match, Captain Basil surprised us with complimentary rides on the miniature railway. A brilliant idea and enormous fun — the perfect way to round off the afternoon.

Our thanks go to everyone who made the day so enjoyable: President Jill Saunders; Captain Basil Larkins; Tina and her helpers for a lovely meal; Lynn and Jill for their delicious homemade cakes; and Angela, who kept us refreshed at the bar.

Carolyn was delighted to present Captain Basil with the Friends’ memento certificate.

Among the 18 Friends players and supporters present, an impressive eight counties were represented — a reminder of the breadth and spirit of our wonderful group.

Carolyn Hunt (Buckinghamshire)