SPLENDID SUSSEX TOUR

On Friday evening, 40 Oakley tourists returned from a splendid 4 night tour in Sussex. We were well looked after at the Langham Hotel, on the Eastbourne sea front, and somehow President Martin managed to arrange wall to wall sunshine - the best weather of the whole summer. Our first match was against the Eastbourne Club and given their bowling reputatation we expected a first defeat but we managed a 129-85 victory. Next day we took the short trip to Gildredge Park and again we managed a win, this time by 118-106. On Thursday it was an even shorter trip as we walked along the front to the Parade Bowling Club. As with all our games the Clubs had two greens but this time because the pavilion was small and the heat stifling it was decided to reduce from the normal 18 ends to 14 ends with the teams on one green coming in for tea after 5 ends and on the other after 9. Again we managed a 90-70 win, giving us an unexpected hat trick in Eastbourne. The Farewell Dinner on the Thursday evening was fun with new tourist Wendy Aherne paying tribute to President Martin who, along with Linda, had arranged a super tour. Friday saw us returning to home with a stop at Worthing Pavilion where, those who could manage it, after a big breakfast, had an excellent lunch and enjoyed seeing Ric helping out behind the bar. Any thought, however, that the form shown in Eastbourne, would carry over to Worthing were soon dashed. We failed totally to cope with a lightning fast green and lost heavily on all rinks and overall by an embarassing 66 shots to 157. President Martin explained afterwards that it is the taking part and making new friends that matters. Leaving Worthing for the trip home, Martin brought the tour to a close by announcing that the Black Mark trophy, for the most misdemeanours on tour, had been won by Hugh Aherne and that the fines for Black Marks meant that over £200 would now go to St Michael's Hospice. He also reported that the Trophy for the best results on tour had been won by Ladies Captain Shirley Ball. We now look forward to the 2024 tour although Norman our President for that year has yet to reveal the destination. Will it be a location where he can continue to impress us with his sea swimming skills?