Forest Hill Bowling Club
Forest Hill Bowling Club
The Club again held a very successful Quiz Night with playing & social members with their guests making up the contestants.
It was good to see Alan Hazel, acting as Quiz Master, back in form. Alan Entertained us with a smashing quiz.
Rounds including ones on Geography, Entertainment and General Knowledge. The final question, which stumped most of the teams was the decider.
During the interval the contestants enjoyed a meal of “fish & chips” supplied by a chip shop, recommended by Brian Rose who arranged delivery. I am told that the chicken burger was particularly nice.
The picture shows the winning team, with their prizes and impressive trophy!
The event was again efficiently organised by Chris Darby & Chris Martyn.
Quiz Cup winners
Pam and Graham arranged a Tour on the Isle of Wight mostly for members of the Club. On route we played a game at Basingstoke. We won on one rink.
Isle of Wight Indoor Bowling Club gave us a warm welcome when we played two games there, which we unfortunately lost, but there was lots of laughter and the bacon sandwiches were a big hit.
On the Thursday we had tour of the Island which included the Needles, which we did not see because of the mist and a stopover in Yarmouth for lunch.
Everybody seemed to have a good time although no one played Bingo in the Hotel, but there was dancing!
Thank you Pam & Graham for organising the tour.
A Chilly Forest Hill on Tour
L&CPIBC have two leagues for outdoor clubs, on Wednesday evening and Friday evenings. A lot of our members play indoors and were keen to take part, so we entered three teams, one on Wednesday and two on Friday (FH - 1 & FH – 2). FH-1 and FH-2 had players of similar ability and everybody had the chance to play the same number of games.
We are pleased to report that our Wednesday team came second in Wednesday’s second division and the two Friday teams came 1st and 4th in Friday’s second division. The picture shows some of FH -1 with the impressive plaque they won!
Some of FH-1 with the trophy.
The New season starts with a Club Drive on the Saturday closest to St George's Day, followed the next day with the traditional St George’s Day match. We always fly St George’s flag on that day but unfortunately the flag pole was showing signs of wear and tear, so we have started renovation it with a fresh coat of paint. This involves swinging the pole down so that our "flag pole painter", John Darby does not have to climb it with his paint brush!
This Friday night the Club house was set up so the members could have an evening playing short mat bowls. This is the second year we have held this event. Although all most everybody had played last year, most of their first woods either ended in the ditch or would have left the green if they had not hit the wooden guards at the side. Every body soon got the hang of it and had an enjoyable evening. Those who did not play just enjoyed a drink and socialising.
Thank you Chas and Deirdre for again organising this evening.
Next event 5th April - Quiz Night
It is with pleasure that we can report that Chas has become a Level 2 Coach. With another coach we may all play better next year!
Well done Chas!
Chas with his Coaching Certificate.
On Friday the 8th September, the Club hosted its famous annual Candle lit bowling evening. The rink boundaries were marked out with tea lights and the Club House illuminated with strings of lights.
The evening started with a tea consisting of scones, clotted cream & jam, sandwiches and homemade cakes. When it started to get dark all the lights were turned on and the teams made up of players from Forest Hill and invited clubs, processed to the Green and a game of “rinks” started. At first the there was no difficulty seeing what was going on but as it got darker, touches were needed to see the Jack. (It is difficult line up a jack in the dark when you can’t see the hand signals of the number 1!). After 15 ends the players returned to the Club House for the presentation to the winners and drinks. Everybody seems enjoy our Candle lit evening as they come back year after year.
Many thanks to everybody who worked hard in organising, preparing and running the evening.
Thank you Angela & Chris for the photos.
A little black and white kitten has decided that the Club is a nice place to hang around and get lots of petting, and laps to sit on. I don’t know if she likes to watch bowls but does seem to fall asleep when a game is being played.
She is particularly attracted to David!
We would make her a members but we do not have membership category for cats.
David looking after a new member
The Club held a very successful Quiz Night with playing & social members with their guests making up the 48 contestants.
Peter Gerlach, our normal Quiz Master, could not fulfill his normal role but Ian Skelly, successfully stepped into the role.
Rounds including ones on London, Geography, Films and General Knowledge. A question on the capital of Madagascar stumped most teams!
During the interval the contestants enjoyed a meal of “fish & chips” supplied by the local chip shop, Saba.
The event was expertly organised by Chris Darby & Chris Martyn who made the event run smoothly.
Quiz Cup winners
Jimmy & Alan play a game of darts.
During the closed winter season Club holds a number of Social Evenings.
The Club held an evening of “Pub Games”.
The Club House was turned into the saloon bar of the "Bumping Bowler" , where members could play games like mini pool, bagatelle, darts, shove ha’ penny, dominos and crib as well as enjoying a drink and chat with fellows club members.
David & Peter enjoy a game of bagatelle using a antique board
Pat and Veronica find mini pool a little too mini.
The Club have been contacted by John Canham’s daughter to inform us that John has sadly passed away.
Many of the present members will have not have known John, but they may remember that the Club held special match in 2021, against Kent County Bowling Association Past President’s team, where we presented John with a silver plaque to celebrate his 60 years of membership of the club.
John was a very important member of the Club where he held posts including President and Chairman of the Company. He was also very active in The Kent Country Bowling Association; having at one time been President. A picture of John in this role can be found above the Club bar and his name found on many of our honour boards.
John’s funeral, for which there is a limit on numbers, will be held on 19th of December. The club will send representation.
The picture below is of John receiving the silver plaque on the day of his 60 year cerebration match.
Club members got together to wish President Alan Goodwin a happy 80th birthday and thank him for all he does for the club. Alan is a very “hands on” president- not only President and Green Ranger but also undertakes general maintenance at the Club.
He joins a select group of Club members of three who are in this age group. Alan in his speech suggested the we have a new over 80’s internal competition next year which, if there were a separate men’s and ladies competitions, the men would only have to play one match, and the lady would be declared Champion without having to play a match!
Those present enjoyed sumptuous and ample food, provided and prepared by club members. There was also music – but no dancing though!
Alan’s continued health was toasted with prosecco and a rendering of “Happy Birthday”.
The evening also gave the members a chance to meet socially during the winter off season.
Unfortunately your reporter forgot to take any photos of the evening, so the photo opposite shows Alan taking a well deserved rest after mowing the Green.
Because some of our trees were effecting our neighbours we had to get tree surgeons in to trim back the oak trees at the back of the Green at a cost of over £1000. The work was done in a very professional way and they also cut back some of trees that were impinging on the green.
Can you spot a man with a chain saw in the tree?
This time of year, after the Green is closed for the winter, the Club employs Roger, an outside contractor, to hollow tine the Green (remove plugs of soil) and top dressed with sand and a fertiliser. The green is also seeded. The picture shows Roger on his tractor, last year, spreading some of four tons the top dressing.
How does he get his tractor on the Green?(His tractor has tyres that don’t damage the green – I don’t know if he has flat shoe though!).
On Sunday afternoon the Club held President Alan’s Day, when instead of an afternoon of the usual triples, we had a “Fun Day”. This involved various activities that involved nine games, including trying to knock down a rabbit (not a real one!), games of skittles, shove halfpenny using our bowls and trying to bowl though the legs of chairs. The afternoon ended with a buffet provided by the members, who each brought a plate of food. Everybody had a very enjoyable afternoon and look forward to the next Fun Days later in the year.
A sunny Fun Day
The club held two events for to celebrate the 70th Jubilee. The events were low key with members enjoying some bowling related games provided by Jeanette & "roll ups". This was followed by a delicious buffet that included two whole salmon and chocolate cake!
One of the "roll ups"
Mick never disappoints with his attire.
Too much fun for David & Pat
Our garden is a haven for wild life. A woodpecker is a frequent visitor. It has found that one of the flood lights make lot more noise than a tree when drumming for a mate. Sadly we have heard no reply! (Play with sound on and in expanded mode).
"Spider" before the start of the John Canham's Celebration Match against Kent Bowling Association Past Presidents
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