April 19th 2007. Vol. 3 No.2

THE NEW SEASON

Isn’t it strange that the majority of us tolerate indoor bowling as a means of surviving

the winter but most of us long for the sun on our backs and the fresh air? Nearly every

member I speak to says, “I can’t wait for the new season to start!” Such is the sense of

anticipation as we shrug off the winter and the sap, (what little sap we may have left!),

begins to rise. Often these comments are made as we look at the Green and the tremendous

results that Derek Clarke and his merry men, the Green Keeping Team, have achieved.

They work with dedication throughout the whole year and we are never more conscious of

what a great job they do than at this time of year. Congratulations and thanks to them all. I

understand that the current sort of price being asked by a professional Green keeper is

around £16,000 per annum. Obviously we still have to buy equipment and materials but

these men save us huge amounts of money and keep everybody’s subscription fees down as

a result. Please, don’t forget to compliment and thank them when you see them.

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, as you will well know, is Saturday 21st April and if you arrive at about 2p.m. it will allow us to collect money and organise teams while you re-establish old

friendships or forge new ones. Being a weekend event, members should be wearing whites

but if you are a new member who has not yet purchased any, please contact Alan Stammers on 01268-780800 as we have several pairs of white trousers available, kindly cleaned by Derek Clarke’s wife, Lynda. We will start the proceedings with the traditional Spider, with the equally traditional prize for the member whose bowl is closest.

Skips will be selected and teams drawn from the hat, whereupon we will play 3 sets of 6 ends and the winners will receive money prizes from the £1entry fees collected. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be included. Do try to turn up and participate as we hope for a resounding start to the season. Thanks in advance to Murray and Sheila White and Tom and Wendy Facey who will be preparing the teas for us.

If, however, you are unable to attend on Saturday you can still come on the Sunday at 2p.m. for 2.30p.m. start. See the next item:-

ST. GEORGE’S DAY DRIVE SUNDAY 22ND APRIL 2.30P.M.

Yes, I know that it is not really St. George’s Day until the next day and I know it is not in the Fixture Booklet but we thought we should still celebrate by holding a Drive. Granville Williamson will celebrate his return from two weeks abroad by supplying tea and cakes free for this day, on behalf of the Club. We know how much it will hurt him to ruin his profit margins, so do take advantage of this rare generosity and join us on the Sunday as well. The only charge will be 50p for entry into the spider for the opportunity to win one of the two prizes on offer. Again, it is Whites and, please arrive by about 2p.m. to help the arrangements to be made. See you there?

SOCIAL EVENTS

Just a reminder that the sub-committee responsible for such events is comprised of Alan

Stammers, Granville Williamson, Trevor Kentish and Alan Simpson but if any of you would

like to organise an event or have suggestions what we might do, please contact one of the

four mentioned above. We hope to continue with some form of social events throughout the

season as they have proved popular and are an important aid to creating unity amongst

members, of allowing us to meet your partners and friends and, of course, to raise money.

RAFFLE PRIZES

Many thanks to those who have organised or supported the programme of winter

Activities. We have raised in excess of £500 in the closed season, which has gone some

way to improve our funds which were depleted so badly by the setting up expenses incurred

when the new building was opened last April. Thanks also to those who help us regularly by

supplying the occasional raffle prize, it is much appreciated.

WELFARE NEWS

The Committee has gratefully accepted Les Jeffery’s offer to continue as Welfare Officer.

We all understand that it is a difficult job and not one that most of us would care to take on and

so, therefore, appreciate the gesture. If you have news of members, or even of past members,

do please let Les know or, at least tell a Committee member. Incidently, if you are unsure of

just who is on the Committee, there should soon be some mug shots up on the left hand board as

you enter the lobby of the changing rooms. (No sniggers please and certainly no guffaws!!)

INDOOR BOWLING

Congratulations to the mixed teams who won both games played against the Rayleigh Leisure

Centre in the winter fixtures and congratulations to Davids Birch and Sharples, who reached the

semi-finals of the Indoor Pairs Competition and to the winner of the Men’s singles, Derek

Helson. Well done for flying the flag for us. Talking about flying the flag, please see the next

Item:-

WORK AND WORKERS

Thanks to all those who have give time to prepare the Club for the new season. The diary is ready, the fixtures have been compiled and printed off, the competitions have been drawn, the rink edges have been repaired, edges and hedges trimmed, and gardens are beginning to look colourful and well tended. Tony Morrell, Derek Coe and Ron Robertson have erected a sentry box for Uncle Ern (or is it his own personal privy?) They have also laid the base for the new flag pole and created steps from the new gate leading to the front of the pavilion, should we ever hire the changing rooms for our major events. Benches are being washed down and revarnished to withstand the weather and bird attacks. In all, there has been tremendous effort put in by many, many people, for which we are most grateful. If, at this point you are feeling a little guilty because you have done nothing, please do not despair, just ask Derek Clarke, Ernie or Bob Chiverrell what you can do.

E-MAILS

The number of members providing email addresses has risen to over thirty now and this

will allow us to save almost one third of the cost of sending out these news letters or minutes of meetings. Thanks to you all for your co-operation

www.rayleighbowlsclub.co.uk

Our subscription has been renewed so that we can continue to develop our

website. John Nunn works hard at improving the site, which is also a depository for Club

Archive material, especially photographs. If anyone feels like writing a short history of the

Club as a project, for inclusion on the site, I can supply quite a lot of details to start them

off. We will try to get more information on site about forthcoming events and about results

and team selections. This all takes time, but I must thank John for the speed with which he

includes items on the site once they have been supplied to him. Any shortcomings are not

his fault but mine usually. Thanks John and may I remind you all to put the email address

on the front cover of your fixture booklet, where it should have been printed, and we will

rectify this omission next year. John may be emailed, as webmaster, via the site. Let him

have any useful information or comments, he will be glad to receive them.

COMPUTER LESSONS

The first eleven students have completed their 10 week course. Some through illness or difficulties have found it hard to complete but I am proud to announce that Lynda Clarke, Barbara Fletcher, Barbara Jeffery, Derek Coe and Murray White have all passed

their first stage assessments while some have moved onto the next stage with great success.

Perhaps the greatest success has been your new Match Secretary who knew little about computers before Christmas but is now very accomplished and an ardent fanatic.

At the moment, it is unclear whether there can be a new beginners’ class but I am aware

that there are another 17 names still on the list of those who would like some tuition.

If you are happy to go to another venue, e.g. Hullbridge, please see me (Alan S) as the Club House will not be a suitable place during the season with people coming and going

and animatedly discussing their latest successes or failures.

Incidently, is there anyone who is willing to give Marjorie Whitwell some very basic

Computer Training as she has already waited patiently for several months and is eager to

get going?Please let me know if you could spare her an hour per week, for example.

DELIVERY SYSTEM

Not one person responded to this appeal in the last Green Scene so I make no apology for

repeating it in the forlorn hope that someone will respond favourably. In order to save

postage, if you feel that you could deliver about 10 copies of Green Scene or of our

meeting minutes, within your immediate area, please let Alan know and we can arrange it.

Meanwhile, please remember that we have the mail compartments in the Club House

and try to get used to checking them on every visit. There are three items of mail that

have been there since the last couple of weeks of last season, for example!

SOUTHEND BOWLS CLUB

Many of you will know that Southend have always asked us to play in whites, even in

mid- week friendlies which has caused some frustration. However, they have bowed to

pressure, not least from ourselves, and now all friendlies with them will be in Greys.

As a result, you will need to change the Winter Indoor Fixtures in your booklet to Greys

to avoid confusion, as you will have forgotten by the time these fixtures arrive.

SPONSORSHIP

The owner of Top Gear, the Leigh Sports shop has declined to continue with his

sponsorship of the Top Gear Triples, which is not a problem, as Bestax have been only

too pleased to fill in the gap that this would have left. However, all fixtures and

materials have been published this year and it would be time consuming and

unnecessarily costly to rectify this at short notice, so Bestax have sportingly agreed that

the competition may still be called The Top Gear Triples for this season and that next year

we will rechristen it The Bestax Triples. Many of you will remember the days when it

was called The Rona Triples but no sponsorship money had been received for over 10

years and even Ronas did not know that they sponsored the comp. and seemed

unwilling to be involved, so we sought different sponsors. They were a local business

and, in some ways, I think that Bestax, being also a local firm, is a more suitable choice.

Please remember to try to use our sponsors whenever possible and also to support our

advertisers in the booklet. We want them to feel that their support is appreciated and

worthwhile.

I should also point out that, although he wished to do this anonymously, as he did last

Year, Alan Simpson is paying for all the refreshments offered to guests and members who

help out on our three Open Days. It was quite a spread last year and I felt it only fair that

we should acknowledge this fine gesture as we would any other sponsor. We will,

therefore, exhibit a discreet notice saying that refreshments have been supplied by our

sponsors,Alan Simpson Solicitors. Once again, our thanks are due- thanks Alan, it will

help make the days even more special.

OPEN DAYS/MEMBERSHIP

These are on 28th April and the 5th and 12th of May between 10.00a.m. and 3.30 p.m. and

we would like as many members as possible to help out on these days, even if only for a

couple of hours. Banners have been put around the town and adverts placed in

newspapers and on radio. Do bring as many guests as possible, Our membership has crept

up to 93 but we are still down 16 on last year. A warm welcome to our newest members,

Colin Ralph, Michael Wood, Bill Bickford and Harry Mitchell. We are also delighted to

see the return of our former Captain and President, Arthur Cook and also to see that

Banny Halpin has returned after almost a year of illness which prevented him from

Bowling. Our previous junior, Ben Tushaw has reached the grand old age of 16 and is,

therefore, a full member now- congratulations on being our youngest full member Ben!

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Historical evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers.

However, unfortunately, all the league results have been lost to antiquity, so we will

never know for whom the Tells bowled!

But this one is really true.

Quiz Question:- Which sport had W.G. Grace as its English Governing body’s first

President? (See “The very last word, “ for the answer.)

THE LAST WORD IF

If you can always roll the jack right at your skipper’s feet,

If you can always draw the shot, the one that can’t be beat,

When asked to, “Put a yard on,“ do you judge it to perfection?

And when you’re called upon to drive, can you always make connection?

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, and what’s more, you’re the only bloody one!!”

THE VERY LAST WORD is, surprisingly, BOWLS!

Have a very happy and successful season! Alan Stammers 18.04.07