Bowling At The Bay#6

Bowling at the Bay

# 6 July 2012

Who’s Who for 2012...

President Doug Hunter - Life

Chairman Jim Wraight

Vice - Chairman Alan Pierce

Secretary Julie Baker

Treasurer Geoff Fisher

Captain - Ladies Val Murton

Vice - Captain - Ladies Maureen Richards

Captain - Men Ken Watkin

Vice - Captain - Men Bob Baker

Junior Vice - Captain - Men Mike Burn

Men’s Match Secretary Peter Fagg

Maintenance Co-ordinator Jim Quaife

Bar Steward Ken WatkinMagazine Editor Mike Burn

Social Members’ Representative Cliff Greeley

Additional Committee MembersAdditional Committee MembersAdditional Committee MembersAdditional Committee MembersAdditional Committee MembersTony BroughTony Brough Peter CatonPeter Caton

Wendy GreeleyWendy Greeley Kate WatkinKate Watkin

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Don’t forget we have a Clubhouse !

Ken Watkin or one of his merry gang of helpers is waiting ready to serve you .

Your support will be much appreciated, and is of great help to the club.

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Bowling at the Bay From our Chairman... Jim Wraight

The outdoor bowling is now well under way.  The Bay bowlers are giving a good account of themselves in friendly and league matches.  Our new bowlers are getting involved in the friendlies, so many thanks to them for supporting the club.

Stick at it and you will soon find yourselves supporting the Bay in morechallenging competitions.  As a reminder, your committee are there torepresent you.  So any ideas, preferably submitted in writing will be discussed. Wemeet on a monthly basis and the meetings are always positive and constructive.  Allthe committee have your interest at heart so as to make your time at the Bayan enjoyable one.

One point that I must mention: There is a dress code for those on the green, whether playing or marking, and this should be adhered to at all times, please.

Finally, thank you for supporting Captain Ken by putting your names down early for selection, as it makes his job so much easier.

Your Chairman Jim Wraight"    

[[[[[ Contents: Issue #6 July 2012

3 Notes from Captain Ken 4 The Ham and Egg Muddle 5 Editor’s Blog 6 Friendly Matches 7 Dave Chantry and Bowling in South Africa 8 More of the Indian Theatre - Roy Butterworth 9 The Impact Trophy 10 Shepway League reports -Tony Brough 11 More Matches - Programme 12 More Match Reports 14 The Social Side - Cliff Greeley

Notes from Captain Ken...

Fellow Bowlers.

As we are now halfway into a mixed season, mixed weather, mixed results… I would like to thank all of you who have supported the club team in friendly and league

matches up to now, and hopefully will continue to support us in the second half. I really appreciate the support, as it all helps to keep the club going. If we don’t put a team out for a match, we might well lose the fixture in future, and that means a loss of income for the club. Already two clubs have failed to turn up to play us, we will not be returning to at least one of them.

My thanks too, to those who are playing in our own club competitions. These are progressing well, and to all of you, whether you have played or not, don’t forget to turn up on ‘Finals Day’, which is Sunday 9th September. Enjoy your bowling and thanks again for your great support. Ken [[[[[[[[[

New Members

We welcome several members to the club this month ; Joyce Barr and Sylvia Coles, and Dave Harding, Mick Wallace and David Webb. We also welcome the return of an old member, Len Price. We hope that you all enjoy your time with us, and have success and pleasure with your bowling.

It is good to see Bernie (Jaffa) Tutt back in circulation again, and hopefully John Whibley will be back with us soon, following a spell of ill health.

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Club Competitions

The annual competitions are well under way, and so far being played within the prescribed time schedules. In the men’s games, mention must be made of the relatively ‘new boy’, Ron Butcher, trying his hand in competitions for the first time. In the first round of both the yardstick and the Handicap games, Ron dispatched two senior players, whose identities we shall not reveal here, but look at the sheets in the clubhouse ! Well played, Ron.

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It’s the way the Americans tell ‘em!

This is mythical and deep. Truly beautiful... A reporter asked a native Indian what was his wife's name. He replied, "She is called Five Horses."The reporter said, "That's an unusual name for your wife. What does it mean?"

NAG, NAG, NAG, NAG, NAG!

The Vice Captain’s Ham and Egg Muddle.

Rain, apparently an essential feature of a drought, plagued us during May.The Lyminge game was washed out, as was the Captain vs. Vice Captain, the Vice Captain’s Choice game, and it wasn’t until Sunday 12 the men, with four ladies making up the number, took to the the green for a rearranged Vice-Captain’s match which took the form of a “Ham and Egg Muddle”. Regrettably, only three triples games could be arranged, and in a blustery afternoon in which the sun struggled to appear from behind the many clouds scudding across the sky, the battle commenced, each game looking for a highest scoring winning triple to carry off a tin of ham and six eggs each...

An early contender was the triple of Ken Watkin, Julie Baker and Barry Mansfield, who surged into a 10 - 0 lead after six ends, but Mike Johnson, Evelyn Alexander and Bob Hill were simply biding their time, scoring 11 in the next six ends, a further 5 in the final six, to finish up with a tie.

On rink 6, a less eventful game was taking place with Kate Watkin’s trio gradually overhauling Barbara Mills’ team to register a comfortable 19 - 11 victory, with the highest winning margin of the competition, but not the highest winning score, which was won by Jim Wraight aided and abetted by Mike Burn and Tommy Webb, who although handicapped by having to play only two woods each to their opponents three, (Bob Baker and Alf Ames having to play one bowler short), stayed ahead throughout the game to register a 21 - 15 result, and enough to ensure ham and eggs for breakfast for a few days ! All enjoyed an excellent buffet and social hour after the game.

Our grateful thanks to Bob and Julie for arranging an enjoyable afternoon, sadly not supported in strength by the members.

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A friendly internal club game was arranged on Sunday17 June, to replace the fixture with Gateway, who were unable to raise a team. Two triples, and two pairs competed for the highest winning margin to scoop the wine and beer prizes on offer ! There could only be one winner, and that was Mick Kearney, Ray Punnett and Bob Hill with a resounding 32 - 6 victory. An enjoyable buffet was held after the game, kindly arranged and served by Kate Watkin, helped by Pat Ames. The 20 bowlers present acknowledged that it had been a fine afternoon, even with the stiff breeze, the low cloud, and the Spitfire and Hurricane with their helicopter escorts flying around overhead.

Editor’s BlogHere we are, half way into the season as you read this, and with everybody hopefully enjoying their bowling. The weather was not kind to us at the beginning, nor at various points into June, which is when this blog is being written. Like me, I expect many of you are wondering quite when this drought we are supposed to be experiencing is going to arrive ! We are still unable to use the sprinklers, however, and we have to look for ways to preserve the playing surface of the green. To this end, the mens’ morning roll up games are being played on the rink / lane markers, rather than the centre line to the rink number. Together with the weekly change around of the green, and the current rainfall, we may be able to preserve the integrity of the playing surface.

At a recent committee meeting, the subject of green etiquette was discussed, and it was considered that a reminder to members might be in order. So here we go ! Most of you do not need to be reminded, but newer members might.

Firstly, the Skip is in charge, and his decisions should at all times be respected. When he is at the head, he is the bowler who reads the overall situation, and dictates playing tactics.He is responsible in formal matches for keeping the score, and the scorecard.

The number two, in the case of triples, is responsible for the scoreboard, and deputising for the Skip when he is bowling. He alone agrees the scoring woods with his opposite number, and will undertake any measuring that might be required. The lead bowler is not involved in this, and as the old adage goes, has unfortunately to ‘Put up, and shut up’! He is responsible for collecting the woods when having lost an end, and when a ‘pusher’ is available, should not leave this task to others. When having won the previous end, a few helpful nudges of the woods as he goes to pick up the mat and jack is always noted as a considerate gesture. His job when bowling is to try and create a head, and not to try and drive his opposite number’s woods off the green...(Guilty melord !)

Other points - don’t move about either at the mat when others are bowling, or talk loudly which might distract the bowler, and even more importantly, when having moved up to the head when the skips are bowling.

Dress - greys in the evening matches and informal Roll- Ups, whites for weekend and most weekday day games. Always wear flat soled shoes, preferably with no tread. Chairman Jim has mentioned the requirement to be appropriately attired when on the green, as we do have a formal dress code.

Other than that - it is mostly a matter of common sense and courtesy, both to your opponents, and your own team members. We witnessed an argument between the lead and number two in a Shepway league match recently - not by Wear Bay members, I am pleased to say. Such behaviour does nothing to help the reputation of a team, and should never have occurred.

Good Bowling ! Mike

Friendly Matches.

Following a disastrous start to the season with torrential rain (some drought we were told we were expecting!) a break in the weather on the thirteenth of May saw us at Hythe, and under blue skies we set to against our hosts, who wilted under the pressure, securing only one of the six triples.The overall score was Wear Bay 114 points, Hythe 89. Our most successful triple was Mike Johnsonʼs, aided and abetted by Colin Nightingale and Barry Pape who added 14 shots to their score after tea to romp home 23 - 9.

Flushed with success, we travelled over on the following weekend to our old friends Kearsney, who promptly, and in no uncertain terms, taught us that pride can indeed cometh before a fall ! Over the five triples, not one Wear Bay trio avoided defeat, and we were swamped by 117 points to 49, which must rate as one of the biggest defeats in our history ! Looking hard for some redeeming feature, all that can be said is that Mike Johnson, Alan Pierce and Mike Burn lost by the least number of points -. They were only one point down at the half way mark, but things didnʼt change for the better after tea, and they eventually went down 20 -11.

Another week, another day... Barham were our guests, and we were still shell-shocked from the Kearsney game... But, by the tea interval, we were cruising comfortably along, ahead on five of the six triples, and after the break we surged ahead, with Mick Wallace, Alan Pierce and Geoff Fisher going great guns to notch up a highly creditable 37 points against the unfortunate Barham triple who could only muster 8 in total. The killer punches were those delivered at the 9th and 10th ends, when the Wear Bay boys put in twelve shots.

Another week, and the see-saw tilted against us again, this time at the hands of Chislet. It was actually quite a close game, with only seven points between the two sides at the halfway mark. Chisletʼs lead could not be hauled back, unfortunately, and at the end the score was Chislet 99, Wear Bay 90. We lost four of the six triples, with Geoff Fisher, Len Price and Mike Burn taking the pens home following their 19 - 10 win.

St. Margarets away on the 3 June… Our luck still deserting us, only one winning triple of the four played on St. Margaretʼs cosy little green. Ken Watkin, Roy Tutt and Dave Harding comprehensively rolled over the home triple 13 - 6, with three of those coming on the last end ! Unfortunately, nobody else from the Bay was successful, and we went down 38 - 43.

Rye unfortunately pulled out of the fixture for the 9th. June, and the weekendʼs activity was centred on a trip to Deal on the Sunday. Never easy opponents, and seldom beaten, history was not changed this day, although it was a close battle with Deal emerging the 85 - 80 winners, and winning three of the five rinks in this mixed match. It was indeed the ladies who acquitted themselves best, with Kate Watkin and Sandra Tutt, assisted by Dick Stagg, who took the pens home this time following a handsome 23 - 12 victory.

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And this is winter time… Dave Chantry

Hi Mike, - A further report from Sunny South Africa...I searched for a small 'social' type bowls club similar to Wear Bay and found one only 2 miles from where we live. There are several large clubs (far too much like 'Parks' in Folkestone for my liking) in the area but they are not 'fun' clubs. The Honeydew Bowls Club has just under a hundred members and although competitive the bar plays a significant role in the activities of the club. There are some significant differences between clubs here and in England. The main one is that 'whites' are only worn on Saturdays which is the day used for inter-club competitions during summer and for 'full' members in winter. All other days we play in bowling shoes and whatever is most comfortable. This has helped to slow the waning numbers playing bowls. We play Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in casuals. Monday is our visitors' day when we are open to any club member to come and play at the club. Wednesdays is similar to 'roll-up' and Fridays we have 'sundowners' which only starts at 4pm and we play 12 ends followed by drinks and a BBQ. All other days except Sunday start at 1.30pm but Sundays we have 'breakfast' at 8-8.30 and then play 18 ends finishing at about 11.30am in time for Sunday lunch or just watching rugby/tennis/cricket in the bar.I have attached some photos to give you an idea of the rinks and clubhouse facilities.

Other clubs have visitors' days so I bowl at Discovery on Tuesdays and Roodepoort on Thursdays, so I keep fairly busy. We can't get the

more senior members to play at this time of the year as the temperature is only 65-70 in the day and it's too cold for them. I play in T-shirts but they think I'm nuts.

I hope is all going well at the 'Bay' and that the weather is being reasonable. Please remember me to all my friends. Kind regards

Dave

More of the Indian Theatre Roy Butterworth

You may recall that Roy was stationed in Trincomalee for a while in WWII, and related some of his experiences at that time in BATB #4. He was persuaded to reveal a little more...

...The last influx of men carved out an area in the jungle, and installed eight huts, or open ended bandas. Due to our proximity to the jungle, we had in effect our own private zoo,

and at meal times this attracted monitor lizards, baboons and ‘Shite Hawks’*, and numerous other creatures such as snakes and mongoose. At night, the mongoose chased the snakes through the palm fronds which consisted of the roofs, but they were not a problem, being more scared of us than we were of them ! We were told not to interfere with the baboons, but one marine ignored this good advice and was buried the following day.

To relieve the boredom factor, we were given a lot of free time, and I teamed up with a Scotsman who was as broad as he was tall,whereas I was as thin as a pipe cleaner and 8 stone 9 and 6’2”” at the time. We were called ‘The Long and the short of it’.

We had many excursions into the jungle, and we earned the name of ‘The Mad Entomologists’. We found it fascinating picking up strange insects, including the fascinating millipedes up to 8” long which were in fact extremely dangerous as they would wind themselves around any object they were in contact with, and any one of their pedes could cause a nasty infection.

We had centipedes up to 4” long, stick insects up to 6”, a tree covered with flying foxes or fruit bats which were actually quite harmless, and black ants about an inch long which moved in columns through the jungle, and which had enormous pincers. The most destructive creatures were the termites, and due to their dislike of sunlight once inside a structure of wood would completely strip the interior, and one would think that it was a solid object until leant against.They had a habit of building tunnels everywhere, even along telephone wires !

On one occasion, we borrowed a commando type canoe, and paddled it out to one of the buoys large enough to sit upon and fish, but we had to stop this as the porpoise were constantly nudging us and there was concern that we might end up in the shark infested water !

Every six months we were sent up into the mountain rest camp, a twelve hour journey on a narrow gauge railway. Elephants were the main problem, as they would stand on the track and would not move until it suited them. Male elephants were known to charge trains, but fortunately we were not targeted. It was glorious once there at 14,000 feet and very much like Scotland. We could not help but think of home.

* See page 9...

The Impact Trophy 2012 Sunday 20th May 

The Impact Trophy has been competed for at Wear Bay Bowls Club for the past 36 years, and originated with Doug Golding's firm "IMPACT". Doug is in his mid nineties and lives at Harlow in Essex. He and his wife Sheila came down to their caravan at Capel-le-Ferne most weekends during the summer season and played at Wear Bay. The competition has always

been a firm favourite with Wear Bay Members and the match is rounded off with a convivial buffet in the club house. This season we tried a different format and played in pairs, starting with 6 ends before moving on to play the next couple, which again was 6 ends, and finally competing against the third pair making 18 ends in all. Ten pairs took to the green to play in the three part ‘Round Robin’, to play for the trophy. No team won all three segments of their game, but the eventual winners were, on the left, Tom Webb - lead; and Mike Johnson - skip, scoring 22 points to their three opponents total of 11. Congratulations Mike and Tom !

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Captain vs. Vice Captain

Washed out earlier in the scheduled programme, the traditional match was re-arranged for the 27 May. Twenty four members turned out for the occasion, and the game was played on a straight 18 end basis, with teams being drawn ‘out of the hat’, with triples, and due to two extra players turning up, one rink. Eventual winners were the Captain’s team, winning three of the four games, and the highest winning rink was the rink with Barbara Mills, Dick Stagg, Jim Quaife and Don Firkin. [[[[[

More of the Indian Theatre...

* ‘’Shite Hawks” - As we had to walk to the dining room with our dinners, these hawks would were notorious for swooping down and snatching food from the plates, so many of the men had lots of fun tying pieces of the meat on the plate with long pieces of string - the hawks got very angry when they were pulled down in flight making away with their booty !

HMS Wolfe, the Royal Navy Depot ship at Trincomalee in 1944. Originally a passenger ship of the Canadian Pacific Steamship line, Montcalm, she was converted to an armed merchant cruiser in 1940, a troopship in 1941, and subsequently a depot ship in 1943. Roy would have known this ship well in Ceylon.

The Shepway League Reports Tony Brough

It is that time of year when the outdoor bowls clubs are getting ready for the coming season, none more so than the Members of Wear Bay. Having been a tower of strength last season when they single handedly held up the rest of the league teams, they have decided it is time for a change of tactics. Having been well fed over the winter with porridge, witchery grubs and Kangaroos whatnots (supplied by Ant and Dec) the Cliff Toppers have developed their own version of the Haka to be performed prior to each game, pretty scary, eh, 12 grown men stamping their feet waving their sticks and showing their teeth, which unfortunately during practice most of them fell out. So now you know what to expect. Under the watchful eye of new Captain Ken Watkin, we all look forward to getting together again, by the way anyone interested in joining our Club as a playing or Social member please contact the Secretary Julie Baker, our only restriction is you must be under 100 years old.

Cheriton got off to a flyer, defeating Wear Bay by 8 1/2 to 1 1/2 in the first match of the new season. Ever reliable Jim Wraight together with Mick Rainer and new signing Mick Wallace secured the Bay’s only points. Leading at one stage 13 to 6, they lost control allowing Cheriton’s T. Hardic, J. Russell and T.Matcham to level the score with 1 end to go, but the Bay ‘came good’ resulting in a 16 shots to 14 win. New captain Ken Watkin with Colin Blake and Bob Baker looked good value after 10 ends being 10 shots to 4 up, but then the wheels fell off as R. Craddock, T. Lee and A.Hall produced a stunning finish to win 18 shots to 13. Mike Burn, Mike Johnson and Mick Kearney were never in it as they lost 20 shots to 9 against C .Cambell, S. Hall and E. Goodall. We have been here before as poor old Faggy's team of Geoff Fisher and Tony Brough went up in smoke against the strong triple of H. Coleman, D. Kirby and M. Lukehurst, being 12 shots to 2 down after 10 ends all was lost but a spirited recovery saw the Bay get to within 2 shots, only to drop two 2's followed by an 8 on the last end, and going down 25 shots to 11.

A major improvement by Wear Bay saw them share the spoils with a very strong Folkestone contingent. Marred slightly by a query regarding the scoring system it was decided to send the cards to Rachel (Care of countdown to work them out). Triple of the evening went too Wear Bay's three M's, Mike Burn, Mike Johnson and Mick Kearney who delivered a superb win against a somewhat subdued Bob Taylor, George Mitchell and John Berry 18 shots to 9. Following up, the triple of Mick Rainer, Mick Wallace (supported by Les) and Jim Wraight led handsomely until a major turn of events saw George Lash, Stan Prentice and Peter Flack recover to within 1 shot only to lose out on the last three ends by 18 shots to 14. Two disasters were to follow, you know who, Bay's Geoff Fisher, Tony Brough and Peter Fagg fell apart after 9 ends allowing Alan Harris, Tony Wilson and John Sutton assisted by the odd wick or too resulting in a painful 22 shots to 11 drubbing. Folkestone's Geoff Silk, Gerry Henderson and Richard Wood looked comfortable throughout their match leaving the visitors Alf Ames, Peter Caton and Captain Ken Watkin trailing by 9 shots to 17. " " " " " Continued on page 12

More Matches..July

SU 1 H River 2.30 M 6T W

Tu 3 A F'stone Park (ML) 6.00 4 MT GWe 4 A F'stone Park (LL) 6.00 L 2T GWe 4 H Jubilee Cup 6.00 M 4T GTh 5 A Dover 2.30 L 3T WTh 5 H Chris Butler Trophy 6.00 TBA GFr 6 Easton Cup 6.15 L2T GSA 7 A Ashford Rail 2.30 mxd 6T WSU 8 H Vera's Day 2.30 mxd WMo 9Tu 10 H Gateway 2.30 L 3T WTu 10 A Cheriton (ML) 6.00 M 4T GWe 11 A Hythe 6.00 L 2T GTh 12 A Charing 2.30 L2T WTh 12 H Chris Butler Trophy 6.00 TBA GFr 13SA 14 A Rye 2.30 mxd 5T WSU 15 A Barham 2.30 mxd 6T WMo 16Tu 17 H Folkestone 2.30 L 3T WTu 17 H Folkestone (ML) 6.00 M 4T GWe 18 H Barham (LL) 6.00 L 2T G

Th 19 A Kearsney 2.30 L 3T WTh 19 H Chris Butler Trophy 6.00 TBA GFr 20 Easton Cup 6.15 L2T GSA 21 A Ashford Town 2.30 M 6T WSU 22 H BBQ Family & Friends 2.00BBQ Family & Friends 2.00 Flat shoesMo 23 H Lady Captain's Day 2.00 TBA WTu 24 A Folkestone Park 2.30 L 3T WTu 24 A Hythe (ML) 6.00 M 4T GWe 25 A Lyminge (LL) 6.00 L 2T GTh 26 A Gateway 2.30 L 3T WTh 26 H Chris Butler Trophy 6.00 TBA GFr 27 H Deal 2.30 L 3T WSA 28 H Mixed Pairs/Triples 2.00 TBA WSU 29 A Gateway 2.30 M 6T WMo 30 H 3 Wood Day 2.00 TBA GTu 31 H New Romney (ML) 6.00 M 4T G

More Friendlies

Kathy Rudman led the other successful triple with newcomer Joyce Barr, and Roy Tutt scraping home with two shots on the last end to increase their one shot lead to three - 19 -16 being the final score. Well done ladies, you saved our blushes ! Another new lady playing was Sylvia Coles, who joined the club with Joyce this season. We hope that you are enjoying your bowling, ladies !Following the defeat by Deal, we were at home to our close neighbours Cheriton, who are always usually something of a struggle, but on this blustery day, it was Cheriton who were blown away, winning but one of the six triples. Mike Johnson, Pete Caton and Alf Ames were the most successful Wear Bay triple, cruising home comfortably with a 21 - 5 result. Jim Quaife, Colin Blake and Tony Brough were only just behind, with an equally comfortable 21 - 7 victory. The most exciting game was that played by the triple of Kathy Rudman Dick Stagg and Bob Hill - trailing throughout the game, they were 11 - 10 down at the 17th end, having slowly hauled themselves back from an earlier deficit of 10 - 3. A spirited last end saw four shots to the Bay - 14 11 winners ! The final score, Wear Bay 108 points, Cheriton 73.

The wind was ferocious on Saturday 23 June as we ventured out to play the resolute Folkestone Parks outfit with six triples… we had to defeat not only Parks, but the elements. Alas, Parks tamed the wind more proficiently than we, and pulled away in four of the six games. The hardy triple of Wear Bay, Tony Brough, Geoff Fisher and Alf Ames proved that it could be done, relentlessly grinding the unfortunate Parks trio into the green. 14 - 3 up at the tea interval,a slight revival after tea by Parks was squashed with a six on the sixteenth end to take the score to 26 - 7, and a last fling by Parks gaining four shots from the last two ends was too little, too late, to prevent the Wear Bay trio collecting the highest winning rink pens !

We must not forget the other success - Mick Wallace leading Colin Blake and Bob Hill in a game being a good example of ‘It all changes after tea’. 9 - 4 down at tea, the Wear Bay boys came out to pile in nine quick shots in two ends, and then held off Parks response to ease to a creditable 18 - 14 victory.

The final score did not disgrace us, however, losing 85 - 92.

The next day, a little less wind, but rain clouds threatening all afternoon - just where is this drought they keep insisting that we are enduring? Our guests were Charing, whose turn it was to visit us this year. They were obviously missing the lovely sun trap that their own ground provides, and the mesmerising sight of sailplanes gliding majestically overhead !

They coped well with the conditions, however, winning two of the five triples, and tying one. Which means, of course, that we also won two… Captain Ken Watkin, aided by Pete Caton and Dave Harding picked up from a five shot deficit at the halfway mark to go on the rampage putting in 19 shots to the shell-shocked Charing’s one. Worthy winners of the pens !

Meanwhile, Mike Johnson, playing on the sometimes puzzling rink 5 with Dick Stagg and Tom Webb also pulled away steadily after tea to register a comfortable 17 - 10 win. Final score: Wear Bay 91, Charing 87.

...And League games…

Wear Bay derailed high flyers Ashford Rail at their cliff top venue on a dull but pleasant evening and in doing so came close to a clean sweep. Captain Ken Watkin with Barry Mansfield and Bob Baker stormed into an 8 shot lead after 10 ends but the visitors Robert Rand, Robert Murton and Vince King retaliated to get within 2 shots before going down 16 shots to 14. The three musketeers Mike Burn, Mike Johnson and Mick Kearney were progressing even better against G Breeds, C Reynolds and Eric Peacock being 12 shots up after 11 but a late surge by the visitors took the score to within 3 shots narrowly losing out 13 shots to the Bays 16. "We will get there one day" cried Peter Fagg as his triple of Geoff Fisher and Tony Brough again lost this time to Steve Miles, John Glennister and Tony Mapstone by 13 shots to their 14. What more can one say as Jim Wraight, Mick Rainer and Mick Wallace continued to be on top form devastating the opposition of Tony Barnes, Paul Gardener and Ken Adams, only conceding 6 ends of the 18 ends resulted in a 24 shots to 8 victory. Final score: Wear Bay 8.5 points, Ashford Rail 1.5

Sellindge - It could have been so much better for the visitors Wear Bay if three of the four triples had not wavered towards the final ends. Jim Wraight and his partners Colin Blake and Mick Wallace proved too much for the Swans George Oakley, Don Johnson and John Collins (nice drink that) as they collected a fine 22 shots to 14 win. Tragedy befell Geoff Fisher, Tony Brough and Peter Fagg who held the lead up until the 16th end when they dropped a 5 to put Richard Head, Carl Acken and Melvyn Milbourn ahead by 2 shots but miracles do happen as skipper Fagg picked up the 2 shots to earn an honourable draw. What happened next you would not believe as Mike Burn, Mike Johnson and Mick Kearney cruised into a 5 shot lead with one to go but the never say die attitude of Sellindge's Malcolm Cage, Lawrence Harvey acting up and John Martin saw them pick up 5 shots to get a rather surprising draw 19 shots all. The Swans Bernard Long, Charles Marsh and Roger Coker had a fine tussle against the Bays Len Price, Bob Baker and Ken Watkin who having been 10 shots to 2 up after 6 ends found themselves only 1 up with 2 to play but the home side then scored a further 4 shots to claim a victory 20 shots to 17. Sellindge 5 points Wear Bay 5 points

" " [[[[[

In Sickness and in Health…

We hear that Jim Hall continues to make good progress, and Val Murton is still catching up slowly with better times. Unfortunately, Mick Kearney’s wife Pauline is still poorly, and Alan Pierce’s wife Freda has taken a bad fall necessitating a hip replacement. We wish them all a speedy recovery, and a return to full health.

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The Chris Butler Trophy

Competition is in full swing on Thursday evenings. Early days yet to predict likely winners, but if you haven’t been along yet, do come and join in - it is good fun, and really is not much more than a roll-up with prizes ! It is carefully arranged to provide everyone with a chance of winning, and the ‘best’ bowlers have not featured amongst recent winners.

The Social Club… Cliff Greeley

Thanks to all the members and bowlers who have kept the club going over the winter months. We have had a good season of darts and general social activity, with support from many members attending.

The Presentation and Dinner Evening at the Folkestone Indoor Club was generally enjoyed by all, but a few members were disappointed with the meal, which was no fault of those organising the event. Our thanks to all those that helped to make it a good evening.

Now it is bowling time again, and I wish the bowlers the best of luck. I hope that we can get more of you visiting the bar, and helping to keep the club going.

Thanks again to you all, I wish President Doug Hunter a pleasant retirement from his bowling, which he has sadly have to give up following health problems. Cliff.

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It’s The Way We Tell’em!

MIKE'S HEARING Older bowlers often have problem with their hearing, and our editor Mike is no exception. One day, with the problem giving him considerable worry, he decided to break with the custom of his lifetime, and went to the local church, where he had heard that the local priest was having great success with his prayers and faith healing…

So, in that Folkestone church one Sunday morning the priest said, "Anyone with 'special needs' who wishes to have prayers offered, please come forward to the front of the altar."

With that, Mike got in line and when it was his turn the Priest asked, "Mike, what do you want me to pray about for you?"

Mike replied, "Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing."

The preacher put one finger of one hand in Mike's ear, placed his other hand on top of his head, and then prayed and prayed and the whole congregation joined in with much enthusiasm.

After a few minutes, the preacher removed his hands, stood back and asked, "Mike, how is your hearing now?"

Mike answered… "I don't know. It isn’t until Thursday..."

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Designed, Edited, printed and Compiled by Mike Burn, on behalf of the Wear Bay Bowls Club, for the benefit of all members, and with much assistance from Julie Baker providing facts and photos. Contact details : 01303 251693, e-mail [email protected]