UNDER the freedom of information act we can now make public the full extent of the scene of Hereford City by the gentleman of Windsor bowling club. As the 30 players alighted the ‘Mainline’ deluxe coach under the stewardship of tour organizer Eddie Thorne, there was an air of expectancy and joviality in spades. The tourists were: david Adams, Charles Burton, Maurice Clift, Michael Cuccenellio, Alun Daniel, Alan Davies, Derek Davies, Martin Durrell, Alan Dudley, Roger Ellis, Richard Flitney, Phillip Gooding, David Hales, Anthony Holmes (club champion), David Johnson, Michael Lloyd-Jones, Ian Mathias, Austen Meredith, Tommy Owens, Clive Palfrey, Paul Parker, Phillip Denture-Parry, Brinley Peregrine, Brian Rogers, Harry Watters, Timothy White, Kwith Williams, Matthew Woodcock and the legendary R.T. Woodcock.

This salubrious mob made to their home at the Green Dragon Hotel opposite Hereford Cathedral and close to numerous inns, taverns, betting shops and Ann Summer’s emporium. The first match was at England’s oldest Bowling Green, circa 1494, Hereford BC. This was a nostalgic return for messrs Watters, Dudley and Meredith, who were all present at the opening ceremony. A superb game ended as all tour games do as an honorable ‘draw’.

The second match was at the beautiful black and white village of Weobley, famed for its superb architecture. Close at hand was Creeden Hill military camp, which was an airfield in World War II. Once again tourists Peregrine, Parker, Dorrell and White remenisced over the many scrambles they partook in to ward off the Luftwaffe. The most famous bowls family in Welsh bowling, namely the Weale family, all bowl at Presteigne. From grandfather to grandson with World, Commonwealth medals aplenty. The Windsor the captain of the day, Brian Rogers, was at once disadvantaged when the scorecard operative overstayed his welcome in the local hostelry whereby the players could never recover from such a setback and a cricket score of over a century was recorded by the home team. Nevertheless Badger Lloyd Jones so impressed with his high-class woods that an open invitation was extended to him to play at any time should he be in the area. Likewise, the Windsor Choral, under the batten of Harry Watters and soloists Derek Davies brought rapturous applause. This was of course expected as Derek had sung at the request of Cilla Black at her Italian villa and also in Las Vegas, where he was accompanied by Frank Sinatra’s very own pianist.

The final game against Abergavenny Had to be cancelled due to inclement weather and that the Woodcock duo well had lost all the tour funds at Ludlow races the previous day. However, all was not lost, as due to a most generous donation from the ladies’ amenity fund, based in Bermuda, the whole party housed themselves in the Kings Head where is superb meal was enjoyed plus a free round of drinks and a personal rebate to each of the tourists. Thank you ladies! Also thanks to Ian Mathias, Alan Daniel, Clive Palfrey and Brian Rogers for their untiring efforts on the players’ behalf and the tour’s undoubted success. The tour for 2018 is already fully booked and a waiting list is in operation. Finally, a huge debt of gratitude to Colin Johns and Eddie Thorne for their reporting of club results, tours, socials etc. Good luck to Peter and Ann Morrish who will be taking over all press reports. NB There is no truth in the rumour that Eddie Thorne is taking over as editor of the London Fleet Street based ‘Help’ magazine ‘telling fact from fiction’.