Change of tack …

Old Macdonald had a bowls club

E-I-E-I-O

And on that farm he had some bowlers

E-I-E-I-O!

With a draw shot here,  a running shot there, here a draw, there a toucher, here a wrong bias – oops!

E-I-E-I-O!

And on Sunday 30th, Ange will be whipping the Summer BBQ into producing wonderful food from 2:00 pm

For those wanting to burn up some pre BBQ calories, there will be bowling from high noon.
Get those straw hats out to keep the sun off (hope it will be sun) and come and join the fun. Any farmyard related outfits will be welcomed!
The event is open to outdoor and indoor members and their families. There’s a sign up sheet in the clubhouse. Look for the poster on the notice board.

 

 

Well done to this evening’s teams.
Shaf, Jacqui, Gym & Paul A narrowly lost by 3 at home.
Dawn, Alasdair, Peter T & Steve G won 25-13 away at Ashford.
This puts the team into the Final on 6th September.
Putney Town face Mid Surrey in quarter finals   Winner plays North Sheen.

1. Great to see Margaret back on the green this morning looking fit and well.
   
   Now that the weather is cooling down a bit, Margaret is keen to get back in the kitchen and start marmalade and jam making to sell at the club for you all to enjoy.
   This is a plea for more jam jars – the 1lb(460g) size are best.
   Please leave donations down at the club. There is a box in the Ladies changing room or they can be left behind the bar.
   Thanks to Margaret and to all ofyou in advance!

On Wednesday 12th, Tina takes to the hallowed greens at Leamington to start her Two Bowl Singles Championship journey.
Update: Report from County Administrator Tony W on Ladies Competition (Join Bowls Middlesex Facebook group and you’ll get a day-by-day account of all the matches)

Our Senior Men’s Four play at 12:30 on E Green on Sunday. Anyone coming up to watch, you may need a waterproof!

GOOD LUCK TO STEVE G, DAVE P, GARY B & PETER J FROM ALL OF US!

 

For those of you  who will be home on the ranch , it’s going to be very hot again for roll ups and Friday Night Leagues , so make sure you have suncream and a hat and water to get you through the bowls until the bar opens.

Karen & Jacqui start their challenge on Sunday 23rd so we’ll wish them good luck next week

Result – a win for Middlesex but a fantastic result for Caroline P (last minute sub and her first County game) and Joan K from CP alongside Ann B (Bishop Duppas) and Rita M (Staines) who won Top Rink! Well done!

And well done to Karen and her kitchen team and Alasdair and his bar team who looked after all the ladies throughout the day but especially after play had finished

The volunteers have been hard at it this morning preparing for the county friendly  .

Head chef Karen awards them a well earned morning beverage.  Alas, Marie missed out on this treat as she did a lot of prep last night!

Good luck to Middlesex as they play Berkshire starting at 1:30.

Any other members who would like to out their hand up for volunteering for one-off or regular bits and pieces around the club would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Alas, no winners’ photo but congratulations to Steve G, Dave P, Peter J & Gary B who won the Middlesex Senior Fours Competition and thereby a chance to compete at the Nationals in Leamington on Sunday 16th August. They play Bowls Kent in the final 32 teams in the country!

Absolutely brilliant, chaps!

Congratulations to Tina. Winning a well fought battle that went right to the 21st end!

Thanks to Cathy for photo.

Congratulations Jacqui & Karen!  Fantastic!

Firstly commiserations to Ann & Cathy who missed out on a semi-final place in the Middlesex Ladies Pairs by just one shot to Christine & Berni from Brentham.
however congratulations to Jacqui & Karen who have secured a place in the final which also means they go to Leamington to represent themselves, Cambridge Park & Middlesex in the National Championships in August.
Brilliant, girls!

Steve G & Paul Cater are through ton to e Area Final Of the Over 55 Pairs where they face Dave P and partner – not sure if is Gary or Atilio.

And congratulations to our Over 60’s Mixed Double rink squad who beat Brentham last night and are now through to the Area Final v Bush Hill Park A.
Keep it up everyone!

 

 

George’s daughter let us know that George passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning in his care home.

He hadn’t bowled since he came to watch Finals Day in 2024, went home poorly and spent weeks in West Middlesex Hospital before moving to a lovely room in a Care Home in Chobham where he was comfortable, although bedridden.  Amanda, his daughter in the UK, visited him very regularly, often accompanied by her dog and Ali, who lives in the US, made several trips over.

Besides bowls, which I think he took up about 30 years ago, he had a love of horse riding which he passed on to his daughters.  He loved cricket, football and watching all sport on television.  A favourite was Ronnie O’Sullivan.  He loved wild life programmes, was extremely well read and could hold a conversation on almost any topic.  He had a remarkable knowledge.

George was kind and encouraging to all of us new members as we joined Cambridge Park. He played in nearly every league every night and then again in the afternoons indoors and Friday Night league outdoors. He was very fond of short jacks early in the game when he was skipping, even if the rest of his team weren’t so keen!  He was a jolly good bowler playing for the club and county and going on Middlesex and Club bowling tours to assorted areas of the UK.  He loved the after-match meals (it meant he didn’t have to cook!) and as Ann D reminded me, second helpings of rice pudding were a favourite!  He was a true gentleman off the green and supported all the extra club activities from skittles to bingo to quizzes.

His bowls came back to the club earlier this year, when it was known he wouldn’t be able to bowl again.  George was always well turned out but he said he’d never ever polished his bowls!  Despite their appearance, he still played really well with them!

 

George celebrated his 90th birthday in July 2021 and was two months of his 95th birthday, when he departed his earthly life but left lots of fond and happy memories.  RIP, George.

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We’ll pass on funeral details when known.  If you have any memories or anecdotes to relate, please put a reply to this post as Amanda and Ali will be able to see them and share with other members of his family and friends.