AVON Bowls Club held an end of season prize giving dinner on Saturday 30th September at the King’s Arms, the first in the history of the club, with Malcolm Hole acting as Master of Ceremonies, assisted by Marcia Hartley and club captain, Colin Easton.
Chairman, Dawn Edwards, opened the evening by welcoming special guests, Mr & Mrs Nick Gompels. She was pleased to announce the club had obtained new sponsorship from McCarthy & Stone, responsible for the building of Giffords Court in Lowbourne and the new development in Spa Road. Mrs Edwards thanked the company for its interest in the club and hoped it was the start of a long and fruitful relationship. She also thanked them for donating many of the prizes for the raffle to be held during the evening in aid of club funds.
Prior to the awards ceremony, Mr Gompels spoke about the history of Gompels chemists which has been an established business in Melksham for 50 years and this was followed by both he and Mrs. Gompels presenting the many awards won during the season.
Probably the most outstanding achievement in the past year was earned by one of the club’s younger members, Georgena Newman who, while not only winning several internal club competitions, also won her way through to Leamington Spa, and having played in the Ladies’ Bowls Walker Cup, Wiltshire County was advised to submit her name for the England Under 25s Team Trial. Avon Bowls is proud to have not only Georgena as a member, but also her brother Tom, who was the runner-up against father Jo, who won the Men’s Open Singles.
Another player who is more than worthy of a mention is John Crowder, club member for many years who in 2017 won three in-house awards, was runner-up in another two, as well as winning the Wiltshire County Holloway Cup with his partner Linda Walton who stepped in when Dawn Edwards, sadly had to withdraw. Not bad for an (albeit highly experienced) senior citizen! The runners-up were last year’s winners, Tom and Georgena Newman.
Finally, but none-the-less important the two most improved players during the year were Geoff Morrison in the men’s section and Pat Cook in the ladies’ section. Congratulations go to them for working so hard to improve their game, as well as to all the prize winners.
At the close of the evening, lady vice-captain Sylvia Crabbe presented a bouquet to Dawn Edwards in recognition of her forthcoming inauguration as Wiltshire County Ladies’ President, an honour truly deserved. Thanks go to everyone involved in the occasion, which the club hopes will become a regular event.
Pauline Baker