West End Bowls & Social Club

Last minute work

2011-03-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

The 2011 bowls season at Lenton Recreation Ground begins on Saturday 9 April and last week saw the bowling green edging on the east side (the Pavilion side) being replaced by new concrete edging. The work was carried out in just one week by two men. The following pics show them at work…

By the time I arrived thay had used their small digger to wide the gully so that the pre-formed concrete edging could be dropped into place.

To do this they used an amazingly small suction pad which created a vaacum, allowing the concrete edging to be placed accurately.

The suction pad was then released and, hey presto, the edging was in place.

Each piece of concrete edging took less than five minutes to place and with very little effort. It was impressive to watch.

The wonders of modern laser technology enabled the two men to take just over two days to dig out the old edging, line the bottom with pea gravel and line up all the concrete edging so that it could then be dropped into placed.

I came back the next day and they laid most of the edging.

And by the end of the week they had gone. The new edging in place. Doesn't it look impressive? With any luck, we should see the other three sides given the same treatment next year. At a time when Nottingham City Council is having to reduce spending on so many fronts, it seems like a real luxury to have this work carried out. From the point of view of a novice, to think that all this was done by two pensioners (the man driving the digger was 71 according to Dave) in just five days was very impressive.

Snow stops play

2010-11-27T01:48:00.000-08:00

Today at 9.30am, the bowling green in Lenton Recreation Ground is covered in snow — which means that there will be no play today. Perhaps we should consider a Christmas roll-up in the park. The making of a new tradition and, of course, a chance to get some publicity for the 2011 season. A discussion to be had. For now, just enjoy the picture and a reminder that the winter snow came a little early this year. Susan and I will not forget it. Today is her 60th birthday and it's a first as far as we can remember.

2011 Friendlies update

2010-11-11T03:20:00.000-08:00

The first friendly in 2010 was with The Sons of Rest at Lenton Recreation Ground on 21 April. In 2011, they will be our first opponents again — on Tuesday 5 April — just three days into the new season. Let's hope the weather is as good as this!

In the left-hand column you can see a list of the friendlies which have so far been arranged for the 2011 season. In 2010 West End bowlers played 18 friendlies. The list for next year is already at 19, with the possibility of another 6 matches (2 with Nottingham University, 2 with Daybrook and 2 with Wilford). Some members wanted a few more friendlies, but with three roll-up afternoons a week, to play even one friendly a week seems quite ambitious. The Sons of Rest, Vernon Ladies and Bulwell Mixed seem to like playing us and they are always good company, so they make up the bulk of the friendlies so far arranged: 6, 7 and 4 respectively, with Rushcliffe making up the other 2 friendlies so far arranged.

Both Nottingham University and Daybrook play in leagues and are waiting for their fixture lists to be finalised before being able to arrange friendlies — so keep an eye of the list in the left-hand column for updates and the final list.

Another Dragon's Den £100 Grant

2010-10-31T04:01:00.000-07:00

A young Frank looks on whilst his grandad measures the gap between the woods, whilst Graham (left) and Alan (right) ensures he doesn't cheat. The other fella was just passing by and came to have a look.* The stuff of legends.

Good news. We have again persuaded other local residents in Dunkirk and Lenton ward of Nottingham City Council to agree a £100 grant from the Area 8 Committee's Dragon's Den scheme. This will enable us to buy two 'open' bowls season tickets for 2011 and to cover the cost of publicity.

We also hope to persuade the Parks Department to allow us to turn the two seasin tickets into sessions instead of days. Instead of just having two season tickets to use on any one day, what we would have is 182 sessions per ticket (based on 7 days x 26 weeks). This would enable more than two potential members to play free-of-charge on a particular day. The City Council still gets an income and an increased chance that someone will subsequently buy their own season ticket. In other words, what we have is a win win win situation — West End Bowls potentially gains new members, the City Council more income and the more new members can play bowls free-of-charge for a longer period and, importantly, at the same time.

The 2010 scheme did not see the two open bowls season tickets used a great deal, but it was beneficial and like a lot of ideas it needs to be around for a while before it actually achieves it original aim — which was (and remains) getting new members and introducing more people to the pleasure of playing bowls.

How West End Bowls & Social Club markets itself in 2011 will be a factor and one of the ideas up for discussion at the Club's first winter meeting tomorrow (Monday) is the creation of a 'Lenton Summer Bowls Academy' where individuals can 'Learn the art and pleasure of bowls in good company and the relaxing atmosphere of Lenton Recreation Ground'.

More about this and other ideas after tomorrow's meeting.

NOTE:* with thanks to Guisborough Bowls Club for permission to use this pic of uncertain date showing members of the old Guisborough Co-op Bowling Club.

An even bigger splash

2010-10-28T04:23:00.000-07:00

Well, the pic below says it all! It shows part of a full page we had in the 'Saturday People' section of the Nottingham Evening Post on 25 September 2010. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post, but I am having computer problems at the moment.

There is copy of the section on file and anyone who wants to have a look can see it at one of our monthly meetings or call round to our house and have a cup of tea as well.

Making the news

2010-09-06T00:51:00.000-07:00

Picture from the Nottingham Evening Post, Friday 3 September 2010

What a great picture of Frank and Graham! The caption beside the pic tells readers when we play and that we are looking for new members, who can play free. It also says Frank, aged 74, is our 'oldest member', then says Graham is 78. You can't have it all when you deal with the press, nor did we get a spread on Saturday, but this pic more than makes up for that.

A roll-up day a little different

2010-09-03T01:05:00.000-07:00

Well, we tried, but it was not to be. Lenton Recreation Ground was not swamped with bowlers on Wednesday (1 September) coming along to mark the 100th anniversary of the bowling greens. As the previous blog entry records, the bowling greens were officially opened on 23 August 1910 by the then Mayor of Nottingham and the Chairman of the Parks Committee and we marked the day with our own event.

The anniversary coincided with news that Lenton Recreation Ground had been awarded its 6th successive Green Flag, so Fliss, the Parks Development Officer we work with in Lenton, suggested a joint celebration — which how I came to produce a poster inviting all those who play bowls in the park to join us on 1 September 2010. The Nottingham Evening Post came and took pics for a spread which we hope will be published tomorrow (Saturday) and Dave Trimble, the local city councillor came along too. Dave is also the Portfolio Holder on Nottingham City Council for Parks and Leisure, so he came along and hoisted the Green Flag and had a roll-up.

The pic shows, from left, Robert, Alan and Frank looking on as Dave bowls a wood during the roll-up.

And here is Dave about to hoist the Green Flag surrounded by West End Bowlers, who turned out in force to make this a special day. Let's hope that the resulting publicity will help us recruit to some new members for the 2011 season. We shall see. For now, just let's remember what was yet another good afternoon for a great bunch of bowlers and their very special Club.

100 years of bowls on Lenton Rec

2010-08-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

According to an article by local historian Steve Zaleski in Lenton Times No.23, January 2006, the formal opening of Lenton Recreation Ground's two bowling greens took place on 23 August 1910 and 'to celebrate the event the mayor (of Nottingham) (Councillor Albert Ball) played an initial game with Councillor Mees, chairman of the Parks Committee, althought the whole occasion was somewhat marred by an unrelenting downpour of rain, which meant the everyone was forced to seek shelter beneath their umbrellas'.

Today, West End bowlers remembered the 100th anniversary of the bowling greens by taking photographs of those were present for what was otherwise an ordinary Monday 'roll up' between members. Next Wednesday, 1 September 2010, the Club is working with Nottingham City Council Parks Department to remember the park's bowls centenary at the same as the park celebrates the award of it 6th Green Flag in succession.

The day was wet (just like it was 100 years ago to the day), but still they turned up in the hope that they could have their Monday roll-up. So, for the record, here is a pic of those intrepid West End bowlers (from left to right): They are Graham, Jim, Denis, Penny, Barrie and John. Then comes Harry and Dave, who look after Lenton Recreation Ground and the bowling greens. Without them, we would be stuffed and there would be no bowls. Thanks guys for all that you do.

Barry gets the roll up under way with the first wood of the match. Graham (first left) has his lifting gizmo ready, whilst Jum (2nd left) gets ready to go next. Denis is more interested in watching how Barry is about to bowl. If he gets a 'good line' and anywhere near the jack, then Denis will almost certainly follow the same line or one close to it.

Only a few minutes into the roll up and everyone was wearing waterproofs to keep out the rain, but still the game went on.

It was, in fact, a close match, as this 'dead end' shows. In the two years I have been playing bowls regularly during the outdoor season, this is the first time I have seen two woods touching the jack (the little white ball). It's called a 'dead end' because neither team is awarded any points.

By the time we finished, we had been joined by a couple of other West End bowlers. Dave kindly took this 'centenary' pic, which is one for the records and I will make sure ends up in Nottingham's Local Studies Library. So, the names again are (from left to right): Graham, Jim, John, Robert, Penny, Barrie, Tim, Frank and Denis.

And as for the outcome. Well, until the last end, it was pretty even match and after 13 ends the score was 7–7, but by getting 3 woods closest to the jack on the 14th and final end, Graham, John, Barrie and Denis won the day.

A perfect summer's afternoon

2010-06-06T05:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday afternoon, six of us turned out for a roll-up. It was a good day. The greens had dried out and were running well. Just before we stopped for tea midway through our game, I caught Denis with his arms up. To the uninitiated it may look as if he is surrending and about to say "Enough is enough. I can't take any more. You're beating us. Please stop now". I wish! In fact, quite the reverse is true. What Denis is actually doing is signalling to his team skip (John) that they are already 'two (woods) up'. Along with Barrie, they went on to beat Alan, Bill (after tea Cyril) and me (Robert) handsomely.

If you would like to play, then please come along. We welcome new members. All you need is a flat soled pair of shoes or sandals — and your first few games will be free!

Taking on The Sons of Rest

2010-04-26T01:48:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday (22 April 2010), West End Bowlers played their first friendly of the season against The Sons of Rest from Bulwell. This is when we dress up a bit, don white tops and grey trousers or skirts. In other words we try to look a little bit respectable. Having said this, we do not go to the same lengths and some bowling clubs and turn our whites and greys into a uniform. We manage to retain our individuality and it is this which, in my humble view, makes West End Bowls and Social Club special.

The two teams gather outside the Lenton Recreation Ground pavilion getting ready for the off. Matches always start at 2pm (roll-ups at 1.30pm). To the left of the door are the West End bowlers staring intently at the opposition, some of whom are in a huddles. Perhaps they are discussing team tactics.

Denis is the elected captain of WEB&SC and begins all home matches by explaining match rules and, most importantly, when we will break for tea. He is, by far, the most graceful bowler we have and it is a delight to watch him roll a wood. I called him the 'Lenton Fred Astaire of bowls' long before I discovered that he and his partner, Alice, are also enthusastic ballroom dancers.

The match is well under way and the ends are mounting up, but at this point it all all still remarkably even with just two woods separating the teams apart across three rinks. There is still all to play for.

West End regulars Tom, Bill and Alice watch the match as it progresses. They are also taking a well earned rest after being the afternoon's 'tea team' and doing the washing up afterwards. Until this year, Tom was a regular bowler and although he decided to call it a day at the end of last season, his woods, with his initial 'T' are still in action, having been passed on to a younger club member, who hopes some of Tom's magic will rub off on them.

These two ladies are both 'Christines' and both are members of WEB&SC. Christine on the right and her husband John are also members of The Sons of Rest Bowling Club and at this match were playing for them. It's like that with bowls. The same faces keep popping up in different teams — it's a bit like the same as with football clubs, who 'loan' one another players.

From their smiling faces you would never guess the result. In the end and after a good tea, West End won all three rinks and by 55 to 41 woods (it is the woods which determine the result, so a team could win two of three rinks and still lose).

It really was a perfect afternoon in an idyllic location. Lenton Recreation Ground really has it all when it comes to bowls.

Hooray! The season begins…

2010-04-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

…with Alan playing the first wood in the first end of the West End Bowls and Social Club round-up of 2010. Looking on from left to right are: Graham, Jim,Doreen and Barrie.

Down the other end Frank (left) and Denis look on. Alan's wood has passed them by. Perhaps they are looking cheerful at this point because they know they can do no worse when it comes to their turn. In total, there are eight members playing and these two guys have been chosen as the team 'skippers' for duration of the roll-up. Robert is the other player and Bill has come along to watch and look after making the tea and doing the washing up afterwards.

Yesterday (Monday 12 April) was dry and none too warm when the roll-up started at 1.30pm, but two hours later a cold wind was blowing, so the game finished early. All agreed it was a good start to the 2010 bowls season in Lenton Recreation Ground.

Today was the day and we woz there

2010-04-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Today the outdoor bowling season officially commenced in Nottingham and two West End bowlers were the first (and only) players to be found in action at Lenton Recreation Ground.

Robert and Barrie were caught by Chris, the park ranger on duty, as they prepared to bowl the first woods of 2010. In the absence of anyone else, they played with four woods each. As for the outcome, this will be a closely guarded secret unless one of them breaks under pressure.

Monday see the first official roll-up be West End Bowls and Social Club and we will be there to catch the action. Until then, enjoy this exclusive picture!

20 days and counting…

2010-03-21T03:09:00.000-07:00

The 2010 bowls season at Lenton Recreation Ground begins on 10 April and things are beginning to come together. Our members are looking forward to playing in the park again and getting into the rhythm of playing bowls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

This year we have two free places which can be used by anyone interested in learning to play bowls and to see if it is the summer game for them. These free places can be used at any time, but they have to be used in the company of a member of West End Bowls and Social Club. If you are interested, just come along to one of our afternoon sessions or contact Robert, our secretary, tel: 0115 9700369.

I have dug around and found a few pictures from the beginning of recent seasons, which I hope you will enjoy. I wonder who will be in the first pic of 2010 bowls in Lenton Recreation Ground?

I recognise Alan and Frank (1st and 2nd left), but who are the others? in this picture I took on 9 April 2007.

In 2008, the honour of being the first to play bowls in Lenton Recreation Ground went to two ladies from Wollaton. It was a wet beginning to the season, so the first game wasn't played until 14 April.

In 2009, the season's first roll-up was not until 15 April and, again, early-April rain was responsible for the delay, but our members turned out in force to make it a great start to the bowls season. In the picture, from left to right are: Barrie, Denis, Brian (who, sadly, passed away during the season), Frank, Maurice, John, Bill and Graham. Little did we know that it would also be Bill's last season playing. He has just told us all that he will continue to come along and watch and enjoy the company, but his knees have finally won. Bill was a magical player and to see him curving a wood across the green was a pleasure to be enjoyed. Let's hope that once the season is under way and the sun comes out, he might be tempted to play the odd roll-up every now and again.

Let's hope that we get a dry beginning to April for a change, so that the bowls season will really begin on the day it should in 2010 — Saturday 10 April. Ooh, I can't wait to wrap my fingers around a wood and send it swinging across the green to be placed just behind the jack. What a start that would be!

October 2009 Meeting

2009-10-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Minutes of meeting held on 5 October 2009.

Present: Margaret Freeman in the Chair and 13 others as per the attendance register.

1. Meeting started at 1.20pm.

2. Minutes of the last meeting held on 7 September 2009 were read and agreed.

3. Matters arising: None.

4. Secretary's report:

a) Robert reported that he had submitted an application to Nottingham City Council's Area 8 Committee for a ￡100 grant towards the cost of two 'A N Other' Bowls season tickets in 2010 (cost ￡38 each in 2009), so that potential members could come and play for free before buying their own season tickets. The balance of the grant would be used to pay for A3 size colour posters promoting West End Bowlers.

b) Robert has created a website promoting WE Bowlers activities at: http://webowlers.blogspot.com/, where he posted photographs, meeting dates and the 2010 fixtures list. He is also going to post meeting minutes.

5. Members' issues:

a) Parking. Bill said that members would like to see parking allowed in the park on match days. Agreed that the Secretary contact the Dunkirk and Lenton Forum to ask for the matter to be raised at the next Park Consultative Group Meeting on 4 November 2009.

b) Pavilion lockers. Tim and Graham, who attend Park Consultative Group meetings, said that action to repair the broken lockers had been promised for the last two years. Agreed that they be asked to formally raise the matter at the next Park meeting. In the meantime, Robert to contact the Dunkirk and Lenton Forum to ask for the matter to be raised at the next Park Consultative Group Meeting on 4 November 2009.

c) Future of the Fred Topliss Competition Shield. John showed the meeting the present shield, which is full. After some discussion, it was agreed to defer any decision until the next meeting (2 November 2009), when more information about costs and type etc would be available.

6. Treasurer's report: Graham reported that he had arranged a end-of-season lunch for members at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham city centre on 20 October 2009. Members needed to confirm attendance by 12 October 2009. Graham will also be arranging a pre-season lunch for sometime in March 2010. More information nearer the time.

7. 2010 Match dates. Frank had arranged a match programme, a copy of which was passed around the meeting and Robert has posted to the new website. Agreed that Robert will produce a WE Bowlers 'Match Card' for 2010 detailing meeting dates and venues etc. This will be ready for the Club's February 2010 meeting.

8. Future meeting dates: 2 November 2009, 7 December 2009, 1 February 2010 and 1 March 2010 (all Mondays, start at 1.15pm in the Lenton Recreation Ground Pavilion.

9. Any other business: None.

10. Meeting closed at 2.20pm.

Our double champ!

2009-10-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Meet John Dabell, West End's double champ. He won both the two and four wood 2009 knock out competitions. If we were better organised, I would be able to show a table charting who won what and who John beat in the finals. Perhaps next year? For now, just enjoy a pic of John. From all your fellow club members and admirers, 'Well done John' and congratulations.

The really, really, last day of the season

2009-10-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

Because Dave couldn't get a machine he needed, we got an extra afternoon on bowls on Monday (28 September). I couldn't get because of other commitments, but I did turn up during the tea break and stayed around long enough to capture some of the action.

OK, I said 'action'. Actually, I'd just missed it when I took this picture of Barrie, Bill and Frank. From the way Frank's laughing it must be his woods on the jack. For my part, I really have enjoyed my first season and look forward to many more and if the company is only half as good as that I have enjoyed this year, I will be well satisfied and count myself lucky.

Over the winter, I plan to post a new blog at the beginning of every month of pictures from my Lenton Recreation Ground bowls archive.

Welcome

2009-09-27T04:05:00.000-07:00

Back row: Maurice, Barrie, Jim, Denis, Frank, Graham, Tim, Alan, Bill, George.
Front row: Robert, Christine, Margaret, Alice, Janet.

The all important tea break, when what's happening half-way through the 'roll-ups' gets discussed (it's the name we give the matches we play with one another and we enjoy the most). In the case of West End Bowlers, bowls really is a game of two halves. This is when games turn and a lead can be lost. An extra biscuit or another slice of cake can be lethal. What makes this picture special is the fact that we are enjoying some of Robert's home-made, sugar free, bun loaf with unsalted butter. The first time he's made it for us. From now on, it will be a regular offering, so roll on 2010.