It seems difficult to believe a few weeks ago everyone was complaining that it was too cold and wet for getting on to the green and that they couldn’t wait for the warm and barmy days of summer to begin. We really should be careful what we wish for.
The season is now in full swing, this issue includes latest news, diary updates, match reports and more.
News
The hot weather towards the end of May coincided with a water leak in our green watering system. Locating the leak and making repairs is ongoing but it has been necessary to remove an area of the wall by the green and this has been coned off, please take care when close to this area making sure to access or leave the green a suitable distance away from the works.
Reminders
If you have made yourself available for selection for Southampton and District League matches, please ensure that you update the holiday book in the office so that the selectors are aware of your week-to-week availability.
If you have entered club competitions, please note the deadlines for matches to be played, all singles games require a scorer, and it is the responsibility of the first named player to organise the match and book the rink.
1.0 Dates for the Diary: June – July
Please find below a summary of events, friendly matches and opportunities to assist our club. Details concerning Southampton and District League matches are published in the annual fixture list and are not repeated here.
PPBC events
| 20 June | PPBC Charity Day | Raising money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. 6 rinks of mixed triples. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the noticeboard. Please bring prizes for the raffle. |
| 27 June | Chairman’s Race Night | Tickets £5 from the bar, remember to enter one of the races and register your horse. Arrive 7:30 for 8:00, between races there will be a hot-dog supper. All bets 20p at the tote which will open prior to each race. |
Advance Notice – PPBC Events in August
PPBC Inaugural Games Night
A games night is being planned for early August, more details to follow…. however, our intrepid reporter has established that the games will not be strenuous, all will require hand-eye coordination, which has ruled out both Sardines and Hide-and-Seek (Karen please note, there were other reasons for tidying the store cupboard).
22 August Southampton Salty Sea Dogs
The Salty Sea Dogs have been booked and we will have an evening of shanties and songs of the sea. Full details in the next issue.
Friendlies
| 5 July | Lee-on-the-Solent (Away) | Dress code Whites. 6 rinks of mixed triples. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the noticeboard. Transport (car share) to be arranged nearer the date. |
| 18 July | SDBA (Home) | Dress code Whites. 6 full mixed rinks. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the noticeboard. The normal Saturday roll-up will not take place. |
2.0 Our Members: Mick Reeves
It was with great sadness that the Club learned of the passing of Mick Reeves earlier in May, and to many it came as a shock. Mick and Mark Inder joined the club at the same time around 2008 and they had a long and lasting friendship; Mark was only 16 when he first met Mick at Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood and worked with him until he retired aged 60.
Mick was a character on and off the green, always ready with a joke and not above politely offering his services as a trainer to opponents during matches. Many members have stories to tell of their time with Mick, however under the principle that what happens on a tour stays on a tour, they wont be repeated here, except for one…
In the club, it is often said that “on the day anyone can beat anybody”, usually by those who have experienced a loss to a less experienced opponent. Mick achieved this with a good win in one of the club competitions by beating Brian Adams (Club President 2010).
During a subsequent tour of the Isle of Wight, someone (?) asked the host club captain if during their post match speech they would be so kind as to ask if Brian Adams was present and to then ask him a question. Following the match, the club captain kept their promise, thanking the club for travelling to the Island to play the match and then directly asking if Brian was present. Brian replied that he was and stood up. The captain then said, “is it true that you were beaten in a club competition by Micky Reeves?”. By all accounts, Brian was somewhat flustered, while everyone else was highly amused.
Our club is thinking of Mick’s family and friends at this time and funded by kind and generous donations from fellow members, two Acer trees have been planted in the garden bed to the left of the Chalet in Mick’s memory.
3.0 Match Reports
The first friendly since opening day was held at County on the 17th May with six rinks of mixed triples. As with our last friendly at Totton and Eling, the weather was changeable; the match starting in bright sunshine, then a brief but heavy downpour followed. The players then returned to the rinks to complete the match albeit shortened to 16 ends. Overall, Pirrie Park played well, winning the match with our top rink being Val, Martin B and Keith H. A special mention to Pete Bouchel who had a good game playing for the first time away, really enjoyed himself, won the mystery prize in the raffle and has since made himself available for selection.
On the 24th May, Southampton and District played Bristol Bowling Association at Pirrie Park with one rink (rink 6) comprising of Pirrie bowlers, namely Paul, Gareth, Keith P and John B. At the time most thought it was a hot day but based on the following week it was probably merely warm. Paul found himself in trouble early on for being inappropriately dressed, in his case for wearing a black belt and black socks with white trousers but was allowed to play on pending a fine. It was a good team performance by the Pirrie bowlers, and John was on particularly strong form; on more than one occasion surgically removing opponents’ woods from the head to increase the score. Overall, S and D won the match and having changed, the two teams sat down for a meal prepared by Pirrie volunteers led by Mo. All agreed that the beef pie, potatoes, vegetables and gravy were lovely and there was much reminiscing of past times, when post-match refreshments at many clubs were of a similar standard. S and D’s winning rink was rink 6 and the Pirrie players gratefully received a gift of chalk and a cloth from the District President. Prior to the raffle, the issue of fines was addressed by the President. Rather than admit his guilt, Paul pointed out that he only owned one belt and as regarded the colour of his socks he was surprised that the scrutineer was mildly affronted when offered the opportunity to check the rest of his matching underwear. A larger fine was then duly paid, thus proving the adage, “if a person decides to represent themselves in court, they have an idiot for a lawyer”.
4.0 Thank you
The Championship team would like to thank John B for his great stewardship of the side over many years.
Roll-up bowlers would like to thank members of the green committee for their daily watering of the green while the automatic system is under repair.
The S and D Match Secretary wishes to thank all Pirrie members that worked so hard to ensure the success of their friendly match at the club. Special thanks to Mo, Rachel, Karen, Peter G, Barry, Sue, Val, Donna, the barman Dave, as well as those that helped to set up and clear away.
5.0 And finally…
Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) gets a lot of credit for his influence on the development of English language and his contribution to many phrases, metaphors and similes that are still in use today. Lawn bowls pre-dates Shakespeare by about 300 years and does not get the credit it deserves for its contributions to modern day vernacular. Examples include:
‘Last ditch’ – where a lazy bowler attempts to put his woods on the final end, so that they don’t have to carry them too far.
‘Can’t see the wood for the trees’ – a common problem when bowling at clubs in the New Forest.
‘To lose your rag’ – in a rain affected game, the wry feeling you have when you realise you left your cloth at the other end.
‘Jack Tar’ – despite your best efforts it proves impossible to move the Jack.
‘A Number Two’ – (that’s enough definitions – Ed)
Contact us
All contributions, including other (polite) phrases, welcome, the editors can be contacted via email (pll@soton.ac.uk) or letter placed on the mail noticeboard in the corridor by the entrance to the bar.
A brilliant letter Paul.