The sun shone from the first pick-up point, bowlers were casually and comfortably dressed and the coach was on time. However, at the last moment just before entering the coach one man discovered he had forgotten his bowls. This resulted in a round trip of 20 miles to pick them up. Next yet another discovered his blazer to have been left behind. An inauspicious start? This did not prove to be so, for good health and weather stayed with the crowd. The Tours Committee comprising Angie and Pat Main, John Snook and Peter Christmas had selected a centre bay high standard hotel next ornamental gardens and two of the six bowling club to be played. Good company, great meals and six days of bowling and the chance for winners each day to be presented with engraved glasses. Losers had the bad luck to be awarded wooden spoons, probably large enough to propel a four person canoe, and which were held overnight until succeeding losers emerged the following day. There were localised in-house fixations with prawn sandwiches, double clotted cream icecreams, kippers and solid but gorgeous bread pudding. Such may be the interests of sophisticated touring bowlers away from the demands of national, county and club competitions and matches.

Sun greeted the party next day and after a lazy morning, began serious inroads into the bowling programme. The coach took the Torquay road to Dawlish Lawns Bowls club. Adjacent to the ends of the six rinks ran a quiet wide stream, which bordered by fairly tall trees brought a touch of coolness. One lady delivered the first of several wrong bias bowls attributed variously to "Dawlish Dithers", nerves, and the excuse "I never ever deliver wrong bias bowls. " Icecreams were ogled from a distressingly short distance as they walked by in other hands, but there was some solace to be had from tea and biscuits at half time. Captain David Bullock led this first match and he and Bill Duncan each made a profit of 19 shots and scores of 31-12 and 30-11 respectively. Match score Shiplake 146. Dawlish Lawns 10-5.
Winning rinks.
Val Beard, David Buckett, Annette Chamberlain, David Bullock 31-12.
John Snook, Peter Cross, Bill Duncan 30-11.
Others:-
Julia Perry, Pat Main, Maurice Hill, Barry Lambourne 19-21
Angie Main, Neil Patchin, John Chamberlain, Wendy Cross 20-21
John Crowley, Rosemary Taylor, Bob Beard, Graham Kennedy 24-20
Margaret Bullock, Muriel Garfath, Peter Christmas, Alan Butler 22-20

Early on the second day the man minus his blazer went off to town and bought what he thought was a navy blue replacement for £70. It was not until later in the day in good light it was noticed that the blazer was black!In the early afternoon the teams strolled across the many beautiful acres of gardens and parkland to Torquay Kings Bowling Club. Vice-Chairman Pat Main captained the side and suffered an overall team loss of 22 points. Match points 104 Shiplake to Torquay Kings 125.
Top Rink:-
Patricia Steel, Muriel Garfath, Bob Beard, Iain Robinson 24-17.
Others:-
Annette Chamberlain, Helen Robinson, John Chamberlain, David Bullock 16-22
Sonia Stretch, John Crowley, David Steel, Margaret Bullock 16-26
Val Beard, David Buckett, Wendy Cross, Pat Main 13-26
Rosemary Taylor, Julia Perry, Peter Cross, Bill Duncan 18-12
Angie Main, Neil Patchin, Maurice Hill Graham Kennedy 17-23
Patricia Steel, Muriel Garfath, Bob Beard, Iain Robinson 24-17

Dave Steel was acting captain for the teams outing to The Den Bowling Club on the seafront at Teignmouth where it was warm enough but overcast, which led to about twenty minutes of reasonably light rain. There was a continuing interest in passing icecreams. In the second half, the whole green was startled by The Den Captain yelling out a very loud "Shut UP!", at overflying and screeching squadrons of seagulls which nearly drowned out human communication. Shiplake 134 shots. The Den 100.
Top rink:-
David Bullock, Annette Chamberlain, Patricia Steel, Peter Cross, 31-11.
Others:-
H Gilbert, Sonia Stretch, Iain Robinson, Peter Christmas 23-11
Julia Perry, David Steel, John Chamberlain, Graham Kennedy 29-19
Margaret Bullopck, David Buckett, Wendy Cross, Alan Butler 19-23
John Crowley, Pat Main, Helen Robinson, Barry Lambourne 18-15
Angie Main, John Snook, Anne Butler, Bill Duncan 14-20

Shiplake travelled to Preston Oldway Club, Torbay with guest captain Alan Butler. Two greens are situated in part of the grounds of the old Singer Sewing Machine family home, which continues to be a very imposing and well-kept building where displays of machines may be seen. The party arrived early, changed, and the women sat on various wooden benches near the clubhouse. The host captain solicitously enquired whether he could provide soft cushions only to immediately withdraw the offer with the decidedly cheeky comment that he thought most of the women already well-cushioned! The match proved to be a wooden spoon event for the organisers who played together, for they were later awarded to the bashful four with a burst of well-received rhyming doggerel from President Julia Perry. Shiplake 159 shots. Preston Oldway 115.
Top rink:-
Helen Robinson, Maurice Hill, Bill Duncan, Alan Butler 31-7.
Others:-
John Crowley, Rosemary Taylor, Anne Butler, David Bullock 20-11
Angie Main, Pat Main, John Snook, Peter Christmas 16-27
Julia Perry, David Buckett, Bob Beard, Graham Kennedy 27-15
Val Beard, Bob Garfath, Neil Patchin, Iain Robinson 17-16
Patricia Steel, Annette Chamberlain, John Chamberlain, Margaret Bullock 20-18
Sonia Stretch, Muriel Farfath, David Steel, Barry Lambourne 28-21

On the penultimate day Shiplake innocent of the bowling battle ahead crossed some 50 feet of road between the hotel to Torquay Bowls Club. A lovely setting once again, sun and sea breezes. It was therefore rather a shame that it was also swarming time for nests of flying ants. These were followed and swooped upon by numerous seagulls, bowls and bowlers in the way or not. All rinks were stung to be beaten by bowlers from the home nest. Club dignity does now allow individual comment on rink or final scores. It was an experience to be filed away, and two more delightful events given top place in the club scrapbooks. The first was of John Snook at last getting a bowl in the right place! Dancing a jig on the hallowed green, John not a lightweight, let out a whoop of joy which was received by some with a certain style of raised eyebrow. To men on a day off left Torquay jetty by boat to sail across the bay to Brixham, landing near the copy of the ship "The Golden Hind. " It was surely coincidence that on setting foot on land the electric power fused throughout the port. No money could be exchanged for goods unless exact. Importantly icecreams began to melt, and computers "went down" - wherever it is that computers go. Perhaps worst of all no pints could be pulled.
Top rink:-
Sonia Stretch, Rosemary Taylor, John Chamberlain, Alan Butler 21-14

Shiplake's last day remained hot and sunny. Escorted by Captain of the day Julia Perry a seven rink side and supporters travelled by coach to the landing stage at Topsham on the River Exe. There they embarked for an hour long sail. Most of the cruise was spent over toward the western bank where the river remained deepest on an ebbing tide. Then straight across the mouth of the river to the hightly improved Exmouth harbour area with its blocks of smart flats. On then to Madeira Cove Bowling club where lunch was almost ready. The match was a complete tussle for supremacy from beginning to end with a narrow three shot loss to the touring side. Match score 146 to Shiplake. 149 Madeira Cove. Skips Iain Robinson and Alan Butler both achieved nine shot differentials, but it was Iain who made the highest score of 26 to 17 away.
Top rink:-
Helen Robinson, A N Other, David Steel, Alan Butler 21-12
Others:-
John Crowley, Patricia Steel, Peter Cros, Anne Butler 21-24
Margaret Bullock, Maurice Hill, Julia Perry, Wendy Cross 9-23
Rosemary Taylor, David Buckett, Bob Beard, Barry Lambourne 15-19
Angie Main, Muriel Garfath, John Chamberlain, Graham Kennedy 19-22
Val Beard, Annette Chamberlain, Bill Duncan, David Bullock 18-15
Sonia Stretch, Neil Patchin, Iain Robinson 26-17

And so to the Gala Dinner with a splendid meal, final awards of winners glasses and losers wooden spoons. Speeches were made bringing into them all the facts, and fiction which contributed to the extremely happy week spent by all. Bouquets were presented and gifts made in appreciation of all the work which was mainly carried out by the efficient organisers.

Here's to the next time.