Byfleet Bowls Club
April 2008 Newsletter
BYFLEET BOWLER
April 2008
It has been sometime since an edition of the club newsletter has been produced. Its purpose is to entertain and inform club members of items that would not normally appear on the notice boards .
Old Friends
For this year, we will greatly miss Ron Dicker, Alf Tabard, Mick Wales, John Ware and John Wyatt who have all died in the close season. Also we will miss, Shirley Adye who has moved to Buckinghamshire and Alan South who has joined Chertsey. We wish them well.
New Members
We welcome all new members to the club and hope that they have a long and enjoyable bowling career with us. Please encourage any friends, relatives or neighbours that are thinking of playing to join us. They will be very welcome on to come along on any Tuesday evening when the club instructors would be available to introduce them to the game - just let one of the Instructors ( Peter, Trevor, Georgia or Jim) know they´re coming ! Also, w e are holding an open morning on Saturday June 7th in an effort to attract new bowlers. If you know of any likely or even remotely likely candidates get them to come along.
Younger Players
Isn´t it great to see Rebecca, Adam, Dan, Jake and Matt on the green. They have performed very well in the club championships and in league and friendly matches. They are a credit to themselves, their coaches and the club. They have already secured one Cup and it will not be long before they are dominating the championships finals, though they will leave the Cook Tankard to the `oldies´ !
Management
Not everyone´s favourite subject but it needs to be done ! The club´s affairs are vested in the hands of the Management Committee. This is chaired by Peter Gibbs with Olwen Gibbs as Secretary. Other key members are Archie Turner (Treasurer) and Rod Godding ( Bar Manager). Bowling affairs are in the hands of the Ladies and Mens Committees. The Ladies Committee consists of Elsie Hoaen (President), Mary South (Vice President), Wendy Gravener (Secretary), Desni Chivers(Captain) and other members. The Mens Committee consists of Jim Beake (President), Trevor Hoy (Captain and Vice President); Chris Hayfield ( Secretary), Harry Clarke (Assistant Secretary), Peter Gibbs (Match Secretary) and Archie Turner (Mid-week Captain) and other members. If you would like to contribute your talents, then please be in touch with any of the Secretaries.
E- Mail
Photocopying is an ever-increasing cost for the club. If you have an e-mail address and are willing to receive any communication from the club in electronic form, then please be in touch with Olwen or Chris.
Green
Many of us have an opinion on the green. It is regularly cut by Harry in summer and winter. It is brushed throughout the winter. It is treated and fed by our professional advisors. However, there is still much more (e.g. regular rolling) that could be done. If you are able to help and have the time to spare, then please see the Green Committee (Harry Clark, Peter Gibbs and Fred Bailey).
Volunteers
You may have noticed that the garden is looking particularly good, this year. Also, the benches have been repainted. These are just a few of the jobs undertaken throughout the year by a small team of volunteers. If you would like to help, then please contact Maisie (for the garden) or Peter (for other work).
Fixture List
There are some changes to the Fixture List for 2008. Here are the key points:
· For the weekend fixture against Addlestone Victory Park Sun June 1st , they will provide tea and cakes only.
· A new fixture away against Seaford, Sussex is on for FRIDAY 19th SEPTEMBER. Please support this and the other fixtures in that week i.e. on 17th ,18th (men´s games) and a mixed game on 20th
· One of the mens fixtures against Esher will be an evening game
· Meadhurst have noted out that we have not fulfilled the fixture at their ground for two years running! Let us try to ensure that this does not happen again. Similarly for two years the men have only fielded triples at the week end games at Ashford - let us try and get rinks out this year
· Horsell will be playing all their games away this year while Woking Borough Council build a new pavilion
· Imber Court Ladies have cancelled their fixture due to lack of members. As last season the week-end matches with Imber Court are mixed
· The mid week match against the National Physical Laboratory will be our first visit to their ground.
· Week end fixtures against Walton are now mixed games.
And Finally..........
IF
If you can always roll the jack, right at your skippers feet,
If you can always draw the shot, the one that must be beat.
When asked to play a 'yard on' do you judge it to perfection?
And when you're called to drive, can you always make correction?
If you can come up smiling when the other bloke,
Puts your good shot out of play and treats it as a joke.
If you're the one who saves the day, I'll say to you my son,
"You're a bloody hero, what's more the only one!"
NOBODY'S DARLING
Up and down, walking ,walking,
Often measuring, sometimes chalking;
Shifting mats - keeping score,
thirty ends, maybe more;
Aching back - tired of limb,
Cheers for others, none for him,
Night draws on, darker, darker,
No one cares for he's the marker!
(That said, we always, need more!)
ONE-LINERS
Lead : "How short is my bowl?"
Skip: "You ought to know, you are closer to it"
Q : What do you do with someone who can't draw, can't roll the jack, can't set the mat, can't keep score and won't listen?
A: Make them skip .
Postscript
If you have any comments on the contents of this newsletter or would like to contribute to the next one then please be in touch .
The Editor