Brixham St Mary’s has a varied social programme that continues through the winter. It helps keep people in touch as well as providing a social aspect to their bowling. Once a week in summer we have a social roll up evening which, once a month, is followed by a fish and chip supper.
In the middle of October we start the Club’s own skittles league. On Friday evenings the Clubhouse is transformed into a skittle alley. Anyone can come along for a game and a drink and the best player is awarded a cup at the end of winter.
We also have monthly socials to which everyone is invited and these usually involve food and a fun activity. The Christmas party is a popular event with various competitions to round off the year.
Easter Social
The last social of winter 23/24 was an Easter themed event, and we were ably entertained again by club favourite, Bob Thomson.
In addition, there was an Easter Bonnet competition. a prize for the best decorated egg, a raffle plus Bob Warner was presented with a shield as the winner of the Derwent Indoor Bowling winter rollups.
Ladies Coffee Morning
Our ladies have been busy again – as well as getting very artistic decorating these bowls – which will be garden ornaments – they have knitted 6 blankets and 5 items of clothing to be sent to Ukraine – a splendid effort.
We also need someone to take over running the group from this coming October – any volunteers amongst our clever members??
2023 Presentation Dinner
On 2nd December, we held our annual Presentation Night and Christmas Dinner at the Churston Golf Club.
The bowlers who won the various internal competitions throughout the season were presented with their trophies – full details of the competitions and the winners on our Competition Winners – 2023 page.
The food was good and the evening rounded off with entertainment from singer/guitarist Rob Thomson – a firm favourite of the members – and a great time was had by all.
Something very spooky was going on at the club for our Halloween night!
The Club was filled with spiders and other scary things. Everyone dressed up and had a hauntingly good time, with a great brainteasing quiz by Keith, another excellent Music Bingo by Steve, and tasty filled jacket potatoes prepared by some of our ladies
This year we held a ‘Success Party’ on 22nd September – to celebrate the wins of our ladies in the South Devon Ladies Bowls league and the our mixed teams in the Riviera Mixed Triples League.
The clubhouse was buzzing and a great time was had by all. John Hudson won £25 on the musical bingo, and the free raffle was – as you would expect – very successful.
In addition, the Ladies have a coffee morning once a month in the winter which centres around a craft workshop run by different lady members. This is always well-attended, not only because of the craft but also for the chat. The Ladies also have a Spring lunch before the season starts and another meal at the end to celebrate the great times they had on the green. There is something to appeal to everyone if they choose to join in. Equally, there is no pressure if they simply want to bowl.
This year, the coffee morning ladies thought it was a good idea to do something worthwhile so they have been knitting for an orphanage in Moldova. They have made 8 blankets and the same number of jumpers. A great achievement on the part of those ladies who got their knitting needles out.
Our Treasurer, Judy Hoskins, was invited to a meeting of the Inner Wheel at Torquay on 15th May where the blankets and jumper that were knitted during the winter coffee mornings were handed over. Judy was presented with a tin of Belgian Chocolate Biscuits and a card of thanks for the knitters
Our Club Rocks!
On 25th March 2023 the clubhouse rocked for our last social evening before the 2023 bowling season commences.
A packed house was treated to two excellent sessions by singer/guitarist Bob Thomson – a club favourite who last performed for us at the 2022 Presentation Dinner. Members danced and sang to hits from the 60s/70s/80s and beyond, and thoroughly enjoyed the night. We were also entertained with a guest spot from Maggie Duffy – an enjoyable surprise.
Snow White and the Four Bowlers 2023
January 14th 2023 saw the Clubhouse transformed into a tiny theatre and, for one night only, playing to a full house, Snow White tripped across the stage supported by her bowling chums. The author of this panto-with-a-twist was Roy Willett – our writer in residence, whose script was full of wit and charm.
Tony Highfield was the sinister Black Queen, the Wicked Stepmother who plotted to get rid of Snow White for being the Mirror’s favourite. He was accompanied by Rumpy, Sue Francis, and Pumpy, Cherry Highfield, two courtiers who trotted off to do his vile dirty work. Snow White, Jan Puckett, was lured to the forest, ate the apple and dropped into a poisoned sleep from which she was awoken by the Handsome Prince Steve Fosdyke. The four bowlers – Hungry Bowler (Moira Withey), Slow Bowler (Jan Mountford), Wide Bowler (Jacqui Hill) and Wicker Bowler (Lena Haward) lived in the Forest and had taken care of her and saved the day! The Queen finally repented and the King (Spike Haward) was no longer crushed under the thumb of his wicked wife.
Scenery and sound effects were supplied by Steve Fosdyke, and Gill Sims was unflappable as manager backstage. The performance was accompanied by the traditional ‘He’s behind you….’ ‘Oh no he isn’t!’ choruses and everything went with a swing. The audience were full of admiration for the hard work and dedication of everyone who had taken part and genuinely appreciative of a good night out.
(Last Updated on 24 March 2024 by webadmin)