Forest Hill Bowling Club
Forest Hill Bowling Club
Friday night the Club house was set up so the members could have an evening playing short mat bowls. The majority had never played this form of bowls before and on their first end most of the woods ended in the ditch, but they soon got the hang of it and everybody had an enjoyable evening.
Thank you Chas and Deirdre.
The Garden took a hit during the very cold weather this winter, unfortunately some of our plants look worse for wear but we are hoping that they may revive.
The garden though is waking up with daffodils and snow drops coming into flower.
The Gardeners are still working most Tuesdays and Thursdays, clearing up, cutting back, raking up leaves and planting forget me nots.
Why not came up and visit the gardens on a Tuesday of Thursday after 11.00am; join the Gardeners for lunch at about 1.00pm and enjoy peace and quiet of our garden that is visited by many different birds.
Snow drops flowering by the gate.
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 house looked good for the Club’s Christmas Social Evening where members can get together during the long closed season. The decorations included a magnificent Christmas tree, table decorations; good use was made of the tea lights, usually used for our Candlelit match, placed on most of the horizontal surfaces.
Almost the whole membership of the Club turned up to exchange cards and enjoyed a very lavish, varied buffet sourced from food brought by the members, who were asked to bring a “plate of food”. I don’t think anybody went hungry as there was very little left for the Gardeners Tuesday’s lunch!
We also celebrated Lynn Burman’s “significant” birthday with a cake, with firework, (thank you Chas & Deirdre). Lynn was wished Happy Birthday toasted with prosecco.
Lynn cuts her Birthday Cake
Happy Birthday Lynn.
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.
The Club held its annual Firework night with some members bringing their children and grandchildren to enjoy the fireworks and hot food, hot dogs, burgers and soup, prepared by Glenys and Deirdre aided by Debs & Julie.
The evening started with the lighting of the bomb fire by David H & Tony, this was followed by the food and then the fireworks .
The fire works, including rockets and multi shot display quality fireworks, which produced an impressive and spectacle on light of sound. Chas as in past years, was responsible for the safe lighting of the fireworks.
The fire gives the Club the opportunity dispose of wood accumulated though the year from the wood, garden and Club maintenance, as well as waste wood from our members.
Thanks to those who helped to clear up the Club House at the end of the evening.
NB. There are no photos of the fireworks because they are difficult to photo, so again this year it’s another picture of the fire!
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!).
We are sad to announce the passing of club member Bob Whitcher, who was a very active member of Forest Hill and Lewisham & Crystal Palace Bowling Clubs.
A tribute can be found on Lewisham & Crystal Palace Bowling Club Indoor Bowling Club site.
His funeral will take place :-
Bob Whitcher
Unfortunately this year all the competitions could not be completed due to two of finalists catching Covid, so Fred had to rearrange the programme at the last minute. Despite this members had at least one game to watch on each of the four sessions.
The members enjoyed watching many very close games. As usual an ample ploughman’s lunch, prepared by Jackie & Marianne, was available on both days at lunch time.
On Saturday evening, after play, the members enjoyed a BBQ cooked by Fred & Malcolm
Results
Gerner - Winner : Micheal Dias – runner up : David Herbert
Men’s 100 up - Winner : Peter Harris – runner up : Mick Singer
Wynell Cup – Winner : Angela Pfaff – Runner up : Maralyn Woodward
Ladies Championship – Winner : Jeanette Singer – Runner up : Deirdre Lambert
Men’s 2 wood – Winner : Peter Harris – Runner up : Mick Singer
Victory Cup – Winner : Tony Leahy - Runner up : Fred Hillman
Ladies 100 up - Winner : Jeanette Singer – Runner up : Deirdre Lambert
Mixed Triples – Winners : Keith Forsdick, Alan Godwin & Cath Merriman –
Runners up : Josie Brand, Terry Burcombe & Peter Harris
Note The following finals had to be postponed :-
Mens’ Championship - Bernard Herrmann v Steve Simmons
Ladies’ 2 Woods - Maralyn Woodwood or Pat Devenish v Linda Sutcliffe
Men’s Pairs – Brian Rose & Steve Simmons v Peter Harris & Ken Stark
Mixed Championship - Alan Godwin v Peter Harris
This year the Men and the Lady Captains held a joint Day.
During the afternoon members of the club played 18 ends in 6 end sections, of a variation of the game where everybody scored individually, points being awarded for shots, touchers and ditchers. Between sessions Deirdre provided ice creams and melon, which on such a hot day, were very welcome!
The afternoon ended with an ample buffet provided by the Captains and as usual a raffle.
The event raised over £200 for Living On a charity that helps bereaved families.
The “winners” were
Ladies’on shots – Pat Stark
Mens’ on shots – Malcolm Loverage
Most touchers Jeanette Singer
Most ditchers Ian Skelly
The Dress Code was "relaxed" -If there was a price for the" most relaxed", Mick would have won!
My brother Richard and his wife Maria are visiting me from Argentina and came to the club and watched our friendly game against Frances Drake. They came away with a very positive impression of both bowling and Forest Hill Club. I asked Maria if she could to write her impression of her visit to the club for our web site. She wrote,
"A Mystery Unveiled
During my childhood at the Pacific Railway Athletic Club in Buenos Aires, we always had to hush our voices and quietly walk past the box-hedged enclosure of the bowling rink. We were never ever allowed in, so it was all a great mystery to us!
Thank you, David, for sharing such a marvellous afternoon at the Forest Hill Bowling Club on Saturday, when not only Richard and I were allowed to watch you and your friends play but also learnt some of the basics of the sport you were all utterly enjoying in great comradery amidst such gorgeous surroundings."
David Herbert
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
Congratulations to those members who have done well in the Kents
Jeanette Singer, ladies singles 3rd round
Tony and Keith - pairs second round.
Congratulations to those members who have done well in the Hospitals
Alan Godwin - through to the next round of the men's singles.
Alan Godwin & Dennis through to the next round of the men's pairs.
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
I think that we can all be proud of our Club, its facilities and our members.
• The Club House, toilets, changing rooms and kitchen have been cleaned.
• The patio has been cleaned and white safety lines painted/repainted.
• One of our gazebos has been repaired and painted inside.
• The bank around the green has been repaired and painted – it took over 25 litres of paint!
• The front gate has been painted.
• The Green has been mowed and set up for the start of the season and is now ready for play.
• The benches, the front gate and the fence between the car park and the green, have all been painted. (The flag pole was painted during the winter).
• The gardens have been maintained throughout the winter - The garden has its spring flowers in bloom, the bluebells are quite spectacular at the moment.
• The bar has been made ready to serve us during the season.
I think that we can all be proud of our Club, its facilities and our memebrs.
Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to get the Club ready.
David & Glenys finish painting the Bank
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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