Chelsea Pensioners
14th August 

First there was the rain.... then we looked at the sky ... more rain....
But still they came!...
and it was a great and very special afternoon... 
Report by Eric Moore.

The Big Day had arrived, it had been planned for over a year, we had invited our guests including the Mayor of Spelthorne, Councillor Mary Madams, her Consort Mr Andrew Hopgood, County Councillor Sinead Mooney, Middlesex Ladies President Dot Stanners, plus past bowls club members. We also had visitors from the local Care home and local residents. We had professional photographer David Dyson to photograph the event and Dogface Films, who were completing their video of our centenary events, plus of course the Chelsea Pensioners, but what we did not want was rain.  However, the rain came...  but so did the Chelsea Pensioners...


The Mayor of Spelthorne, Councillor Mary Madams, and her Consort, Mr Andrew Hopgood, with Middlesex Ladies President Dot Stanners and Vice Captain Ladies Rita Moore greeting our guests

The Mayor and Consort with Middlesex Ladies President Dot Stanners

Our guests were cheerful despite the wet conditions!

Mobirise

... a little later, like magic, the rain eased and we managed a photo session plus introductory speeches from the Staines Club Captain and the Mayor... see below for pictures of these plus some of the pictures from the photo session by David Dyson.

Before the match we held a “Spider” for charity in which everybody took part, but the winner was Staines new bowler Alan Pilling (his wife Alison is pictured below). Well done Alan, we then played a full 18 ends of bowls.

Mobirise
click here to see all the photos from the day

The final result of the match was a win to Staines 80-45, but the real winners were everyone who took part in a very, very enjoyable afternoon.

There was one stoppage for rain, but that coincided with the half time team changes and then everyone was out for the second half.   


We must thank Cynthia Hay, ably assisted by Jean Lintott, who managed the catering to perfection, first it was to be early, then at half way then finally at the end.

Our thanks also go to James Shanks of Dogface Films for recording the event for us, and also to David Dyson who took many photographs of the day, all available to be seen here. 

Thanks to all others who contributed pictures of the event, including Eric Moore, Roger Lintott, Joyce Marshall, Nick Kirby and Mike Davies.

Finally, thanks to you, the members of Staines Bowling Club, for playing.

This fixture concludes our special Centenary events and I must thank everyone involved, from the Centenary committee led by Clive Lintott, to Cynthia Hay for leading the catering, John Hay and his team who managed the bar, Margaret George and her team of gardeners who ensured the grounds were always looking perfect, to everyone who volunteered help, whether it was required or not, you were there. All external contributors who gave up their time free of charge to assist the club, and finally to the club's true supporters who came and played just for the club.   Eric.

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