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Swakeleys House Bowls Club Holiday Tour - Babbacombe 26^th May to 2^nd June 2012

Tour Managers: Gerry Yore and Captain Steve Kirton

This year Swakeleys were joined by bowlers and friends from other
clubs - Broomwade, The Mill, Chalfont St. Giles and Windsor Great Park.
We assembled in Community Close at 9am.to board the coach. With
great difficulty our driver John managed to stow all the baggage in the
hold. There were bowls and bags of thirty eight bowlers, plus the
luggage of seven non-players.

We had a good journey down to Devon, stopping once for a comfort
break and then for lunch at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Unfortunately
one of our party had a bad fall and hit her head. The museum staff
insisted that a paramedic should be called. After a thorough check he
was satisfied that our casualty was OK, and we were allowed to continue
on our way to Babbacombe. This, however, was the first of several
accidents to befall our tour. Two required visits to the doctor and the
rest were minor injuries such as sprained ankles and grazed knees.
We arrived at our destination in the late afternoon. The Sefton hotel
was situated on the cliff top and had stunning views across the bay.

Day 2 Sunday 27^th May - Victoria Bowls Club

Our first match was against Victoria Bowls Club where we were made very welcome. We had played them on a previous occasion and alas, as the result was the same as before, we lost. The game was very friendly and they gave us a super Devon Cream Tea. Captain Steve presented the club with the celebrated “Ickenham Tea Towel”.

Day 3 Monday 28^th May - Torquay Belgrave

What a fantastic club house they have with a fully fitted kitchen. There was plenty of storage space, a huge fridge, a hot cabinet, a dishwasher and a double-burner cooker. We were green with envy. Another great game, but we suffered a heavy loss. We congratulated our hosts by giving them our second “Ickenham Tea Towel”.

Day 4 Tuesday 29^th May - Brixham St. Mary

We had a pleasant coach ride to Brixham St Mary. The weather was sunny and very warm, as was the welcomed we received. The Brixham St Mary team were one player short, so they seconded one of our spectators. She was totally unprepared to play - no bowls and no shoes. However, bright red bowls were produced and her own shoes proclaimed acceptable. This time we lost by only thirteen shots. We were getting better! Yet another “Ickenham Tea Towel” now resides in Devon.

Day 5 Wednesday 30^th May - A Day Off

This was our day off with no bowling. Tired backs could unbend and relax. We visited the Garden House and gardens where we spent two hours wandering about the grounds. Some parts of the gardens were a bit sparse and a gardener explained that may of the not so hardy plants had suffered because of two very severe winters. On our way back to the hotel John our driver took us over the moors where we saw ponies, some of which had foals. We drove through Princetown and passed Dartmoor Prison. Even in the bright sunshine the prison looked grim. We decided not to stay and continued to the Sefton where we had an early dinner before going to the theatre. It was very entertaining with dancers, singers and comedians, but nobody could remember the jokes afterwards. It must be an age thing?

Day 6 Thursday 31^st May - Marldon Maple Leaf

We were met by the members of the Marldon Maple Leaf Bowls Club with their cars, and they ferried us with our bags to their club. The very steep hill down to the green was more than our coach could manage. Again we were made welcome, and at the end of an excellent game we discovered that we had WON by four shots! After the game we were so grateful to MML for the lifts back up the hill to meet our coach. We would never have made it under our own steam. Yes, they were given an “Ickenham Tea Towel” which appeared on cue at the required moment.

Day 7 Friday 1^st June - Torbay County Bowls Club

Our final match was played at Torbay County Bowls Club, in the grounds of a magnificent house once owned by the Singer Family of sewing machine fame. The club sported two greens. We had such fun, with all the games played in great spirits. So much so that Gerry later received an email from the Club Captain hoping that we would return again next year. Perhaps the Captain wants another “Ickenham Tea Towel”.
After our last dinner at the hotel, Steve presented the top bowlers with their prizes. Gerry and Steve were given tokens of our thanks for a very happy and successful tour.
Most evenings the Sefton provided entertainment, but nothing could compare with the impromptu game of Charades presented by our very own troupe, and the “star performer” was STEVE. Once again, a great tour due to all the hard work that Gerry and Steve put in. Here’s to next year………………please!