ON the afternoon of Saturday May 23, Camelford & District Bowling Club celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the Club. At 2.00 pm a crowd of over 70 people gathered on the green and surrounding area.
President Eric Smith began the proceedings by welcoming everyone and presenting a special commemorative badge to members of six visiting teams, namely Bodmin, Bradworthy, Dunheved, Kensey Vale, Stratton and Wadebridge, being some of the earliest clubs to play on the Camelford green in friendly matches.
Club Captain Colin Parsons then welcomed everyone and said it was his honour and privilege to get the celebration game under way and that the crowning glory of the day was the beautiful sunny weather.
In order that as many Camelford bowlers as possible could participate in the game several members exchanged after ten ends. In total, 36 members played during part or all of the celebration match, against the visiting teams. The match was very much enjoyed by all, with the captain's rink just managing to hold on to an early lead to win their game and the other rinks all coming a close second to the visitors.
The day concluded with members and guests of honour sitting down to a wonderful cold meat and salad meal, ably prepared by and served by four club members. Guests of Honour included Mrs Ann Richards (owner of the land on which the green was formed), Harry Hall, Jack Colwill, Keith Hill (Life Members), and Jim Baker (former player). Sadly Reg Sharp (Life Member and player) was unable to attend. Also attending was Mrs Buck (wife of Secretary Peter Buck).
After the meal, a 25th anniversary cake, made by Maggie Iles and decorated by Diana Jones, was cut by President Eric Smith, who continued by thanking the six visiting clubs who had come to share this special day and also the special guests, many of whom were involved in the inauguration of the club. He thanked the many club members who had helped to make this day possible, especially Diana and John Jones and their helpers, Maggie Iles and Christine Gosling, for providing such a splendid meal. Eric said that a lot had happened in the past 25 years and then handed over to Pat Tolhurst, who had compiled a brief history of the club. Pat gave an interesting and informative resume of the main events of the last quarter of a century. Keith Hill also reflected on his memories of the building of the green and passed around photographs he had taken at different stages of the build. It was probably down to Keith's doggedness that the dreams of a Camelford club actually came to fruition!
Finally, President Eric presented Peter Buck with an Honorary Life Membership, in recognition of all the work he had done for the club since its formation and Pat Tolhurst presented Mrs Buck with a bouquet of flowers, in recognition of all the help she had given her husband behind the scenes. Along with Stuart Hambly, who took part, and Reg Sharp, Peter has played at the club since its inception. Visting Captain, Alan Addis (Kensey Vale) responded by congratulating the club on its achievement and thanking them for a great afternoon. The event concluded with a club raffle.
Among members who helped to make the day such a success were Colin Parsons (Club Captain), Bob Staple (greenkeeper), Nina Smith and Eric Lowe (bartenders), Ken Davey and Malcolm Prout (car park attendants) and Liz Staple (table floral arrangements). Such was the success of the day that it would have been difficult for anyone to have found any fault in its organisation or accomplishment. Congratulations everyone!
On May 25 Camelford visited Lostwithiel to carry out the second leg of the 'B' Team Trophy, having ten shots in hand after the first leg at Camelford earlier in the month. The weather turned wet later in the evening which dampened the spirits of the visitors even more as they were second best on the night. Overall the hosts ran out winners by 18 shots: H Dunk, C Jasper, T Bailey, R Edmonds 8-28; H Teague, F Bennett, N Wright, E Lowe 14-25; E Smith, M Robbins, R Staple, M Prout 26-16.
In a Date Cup encounter at Camelford on May 21, Camelford Ladies won 39-33 against a Bodmin 'A' team. Skip M Shillaber, J Griffiths, and D Jones. Skip P Tolhurst, M Iles and H Smeeth.
Camelford men's 'A' team enjoyed a good evening at Kensey Vale on May 26 but were the recipients of only one point from rink 6 in the County League fixture: F Bennett, C Parsons, R Shillaber, B Gosling 20-16; K Davey, M Robbins, E Lowe, P Buck l8-27; D Cook, D Taylor, A Simon, S Hambly 10-23.
On the first warm evening of the summer so far, Wadebridge 'A' were the visitors to Lanteglos Road, on Thursday May 28, to vie with the Camelford 'A' team. The visitors took the lion's share of the points (1-4) just edging the Camels' by 61 shots to 53: F Bennett, N Wright, R Shillaber, B Gosling 17-26; A Simon, D Taylor, D Cook, S Hambly 22-13; K Davey, M Robbins, C Parsons, P Buck 14-22.
Francis Bennett.