The funeral for Tom Dowthwaite will take place on Tuesday 19th December at 11:20am at South West Middlesex (Hanworth) Crematorium and afterwards at the SSA Bowls Club.

Tom was a much loved member of Sunbury Bowls for many years, switching from Midweek Captain to be our Honourable President in his latter years. It’s fair to say the job suited Tom down to the ground, showing his face and chatting to literally anyone and everyone at club events as well as handing out trophies with aplomb. That’s not to say he wasn’t a very good bowler in his time, picking up silverware fairly regularly down the years, starting in 2009 with the Mens Handicap and Mens Pairs (with Jack Bache) up to his last trophy in 2021 in the Mixed 2-woods Pairs (with Alex Kelly). He tended to apologise whenever he won which sums Tom up very well, always thinking about others. He’ll be a hard act to follow, RIP Tom!

The green received its last cut of the year this week. We’re hoping that’s the last of nearly 40 cuts this year as it was heavy going at times even with lighter mowers! Also this week, the hedges got their first cut of the year as part of the SSA general grounds work. The hedge by the road was cut shorter and they all look the best they have in a long time.

Just a reminder that our last social of the year is Tuesday 5th at 7:30pm .. all welcome.

Events on at SSA ..

Tickets are selling quickly for our NYE Party with Red Rocket:
https://www.sunburycricket.co.uk/payments/new-years-eve-with-red-rocket-103870.html

Sat 25 Nov: Pop Up Christmas Market from 11:30am to 2pm
Manchester City v Liverpool PL 12:30 TNT
Saracens v Bristol GPR 3pm TNT (if demand)
Brentford v Arsenal PL 5:30pm Sky

Sun 26 Nov: Tottenham v Aston Villa PL 2pm Sky
Newcastle v Exeter GPR 3pm TNT (if demand)
Everton v Manchester United PL 4:30pm Sky

Mon 27 Nov: Bar Closed

Tue 28 Nov: PSG v Newcastle United CL 8pm TNT
Manchester City v Leipzig CL 8pm TNT

Wed 29 Nov: Arsenal v RC Lens CL 8pm TNT

Thu 30 Nov: Liverpool v LASK EurL 8pm TNT
Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw ConL 8pm TNT

Fri 1 Dec: Harlequins v Sale GPR 7:45pm TNT (if demand)
Preston North End v QPR Ch 8pm Sky (if demand)
Surplus Cafe open from 6:15pm

Sat 2 Dec: Exeter v Bath GPR 3pm TNT (if demand)
Nottingham Forest v Everton PL 5:30pm Sky
Newcastle United v Manchester United PL 8pm TNT

Sun 3 Dec: West Ham v Crystal Palace PL 2pm Sky
Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur PL 4:30pm Sky

We enjoyed the annual dinner and presentation of awards at Fulwell Golf Club on 17th November. Illness caused some absentees and we wish everyone well, including our President Tom. Our Honourable Secretary David deputised with the speech, somewhat shorter than it would have been! Our departing Captain Diane took the dual honour of presenting the trophies after the meal and the winning captain of the Friday Morning League. Many congratulations to the thirteen who were awarded trophies, including three first-timers Keith & Jenny Clark and Jen Benson. The two winners revealed on the night were the close-run affairs of Club Night champions .. Simon Reynolds for the Men and Tracy Frankson for the Women. Well done all, and especially those that David kindly described as the losers, without which there wouldn’t be any winners. Roll on 2024.

All the photos from the evening are available here .. Presentation Dinner 2023

Next up is our Christmas special winter social on Tuesday 5th December.

 

Blue bottoms, Chris’ contribution and Di’s departure were three of the major topics at last night’s AGM evening.

A motion to adopt navy blue bottoms as part of our formal club kit was carried unanimously. This was mooted during the season and is in line with Bowls England’s mission to present a more modern image for the sport. It’s being adopted by more and more clubs and signals the end of the tradition of weekend whites and mid-week greys. So from next season it’s club shirt (new or old) and navy (or dark) blue bottoms in all competitions and club matches. The choice of which colour shoes (flat ones) and socks to wear is a personal one. A more relaxed approach for Club Night and ad-hoc roll-ups will persist if preferred.

Chris Shire was presented with the Club Trophy for the last year. His contribution to helping around the green and club on match and competition days was recognised together with his arrangement of ad-hoc roll-ups during the week. He joins a select group of well-deserved winners including Nikki Morris, Ann Templeman, Tony Henning, John Nutt and Karen Pilkington in recent years. Well done Chris.

Sadly, Diane Saunders has decided to call time on her team captaincy. She has done a sterling job down the years, cajoling folk to play and having to make some difficult decisions at times. We may have finished towards the bottom of the South Middlesex League table (again!) but she can certainly leave on a high .. wrestling the Bluewood Shield from Hampton back in August! We’ll still see Di around the green next season and she’ll continue her contribution to the committee and club. Stepping into Di’s shoes will be Dennis Morris, unanimously approved as next year’s Captain.

Amongst other items mentioned was the adoption of a safeguarding officer being mandatory for all clubs; our club finances should be able to absorb the yearly SSA fees which will be announced in due course; the extension of the Friday Morning League to more than 10 weeks, so running until September.

Being able to spell the NE American state and recognise the lowest bingo call helped Number 42 win the recent quiz night winter social. Congratulations to Cassie, Jen, Keith, Chris, Andrew & Anthea. Mind you, the result was the closest possible with the top 5 teams separated by 4 points. This was followed by a raffle which saw a spooky draw of 4 consecutive numbers! Many thanks to our compere Gary who will be back by popular demand with another quiz in the new year.

Thanks to Barry and Tracy for doing the honours on Remembrance Sunday and laying a wreath on behalf of the club.

Our AGM takes place this coming Tuesday, 14th at 7:30pm. Amongst other items, there will be a decision made on dress code for the coming season.

Also the 64^th Annual General Meeting of Sunbury Sports Association will be held in the Clubhouse on Thursday, 23rd November at 7:30pm.

Our annual Bowls Dinner and Presentation of Prizes is fast approaching on Friday 17th. Please gather at 6:30pm for a 7pm start. Any donations for a raffle prize would be appreciated.

Further info from the Cricket Club ..

The Ooh Err Band return to the Club next Saturday (Nov 18)
Ticket are available for just £10 each using this link:
https://www.sunburycricket.co.uk/payments/live-music-with-the-ooh-err-band-100708.html

Tickets are also available for NYE with live music from Red Rocket
NYE tickets are available for £20 each using this link:
https://www.sunburycricket.co.uk/payments/new-years-eve-with-red-rocket-103870.html

Fri 17 Nov: Alan’s Music Quiz from 8pm
England v Malta Euro Qualifier 7:45pm
Surplus Cafe open from 6:15pm

Sat 18 Nov: Live Music with The Ooh Err Band from 8:30pm
Surplus Cafe open from 7pm to 8:15pm (with limited menu)
Ticket are available for just £10 each using this link:
https://www.sunburycricket.co.uk/payments/live-music-with-the-ooh-err-band-100708.html

Sun 19 Nov: ICC Cricket Word Cup Final from 12 Sky

Just a reminder that we have our next winter social on Tuesday 7th November .. Quiz Night!

The action kicks off 7:30pm with quiz master Gary in charge. Everyone is welcome, family and friends too. Our AGM is the week after on Tues 14th, closely followed by our annual Dinner and presentations of awards on Fri 17th.

A message from the Dave Smith of SSA ..

Defibrillator communication over the last few years it would seem many people STILL DON’T know where the onsite Defibrillator is stored and available for emergencies.
Recently we had a member who had a heart attack, good news he survived.
Please make sure you tell your partners and club friends, perhaps even QUIZ your club friends and see if they read our important communications.
THE DEFIBRILATOR is stored in Bowls Room 5, which is off the Bowls corridor at the end of the Hall, the opposite end to the Bar.
The room is the first on the left as you leave the Hall and has a SIGN OUTSIDE saying, would u believe it, DEFIBRILATOR.
It can be used by anybody as it tells u exactly what to do.
It is deliberately stored in this room as the Bowls corridor is outside the “Alarmed Area” of the clubhouse and can be accessed without keys to the main building but via key pad at far end of the building where the double doors are overlooking the Bowls Green. If Club is open it can be accessed via main hall or bowls double doors at end of the building.
Dave Smith

The winter socials kicked off this week with an evening of skittles .. top scorers Alex and Nathan helped their teams to the top two places. Next month’s winter social will undoubtedly  go with a bang .. hot on the heels of Bonfire Night is Quiz Night on 7th November, courtesy of Gary!

The heavy work to the green has been completed this week leaving some lighter duties to finish putting the green to bed. If you have some time spare please pop on down anytime from 10:30am this Saturday to help the greenkeepers.

It may not feel like it but October has arrived and with it our first winter social .. Tuesday 3rd at 7:30pm will be an evening of skittles and some chat on bowls together with an explanation of county competitions.

Work on the green is imminent with the heavy work planned for this week. Following that will be some tidying up and lighter duties on Saturday 7th so if  you can spare the time please drop in from 10:30am.

Our annual Presentation Dinner is next month so please add your name if you haven’t already done so with payments of £29.50pp to Barry .. bank transfer preferred (account 91701800; sort 40-44-39).

SSA Club events ..

The excellent Ooh Err Band return to the Club on Sat 18 November
Last chance to get cheap tickets at special offer of 4 for price of 3:
https://www.sunburycricket.co.uk/payments/live-music-with-the-ooh-err-band-100708.html

Tue 3 Oct: Man United v Galatasaray CL 8pm TNT
RC Lens v Arsenal CL 8pm TNT

Wed 4 Oct: Newcastle United v PSG CL 8pm TNT
RB Leipzig v Manchester City CL 8pm TNT

Thu 5 Oct: England v New Zealand ICC from 7pm Sky
New Zealand v Uruguay Rugby WC 8pm ITV (if demand)
Liverpool v Union Saint-Gilloise EL 8pm TNT (if demand)

Fri 6 Oct: Surplus Café open from 6:15pm
France v Italy Rugby WC 8pm ITV (if demand)
Birmingham City v West Brom Ch 8pm Sky (if demand)

Sat 7 Oct: Luton Town v Tottenham PL 12:30pm TNT
Wales v Georgia Rugby WC 2pm ITV (if demand)
England v Samoa Rugby WC 4:45pm ITV
Crystal Palace v Nott Forest PL 5:30pm Sky (if demand)
Ireland v Scotland Rugby WC 8pm ITV

Sun 8 Oct: India v Australia ICC from 12-2pm Sky
Japan v Argentina Rugby WC 12 ITV (if demand)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool PL 2pm Sky
Arsenal v Manchester City PL 4:30pm Sky

We wrapped up the summer programme with a team match at Bishop Duppas on Saturday 23rd. We may have lost 7-3 but it belies a close match right up to the end and an overall shot loss of 70-60. It cemented our 6th place in the SML Mixed League and provides encouragement for next season. Sadly, this will be under new management as our captain Diane has decided to hand on the reins to someone new. Also, Cassie has decided to call time on her work on the committee. They’ve both been part of the fixtures and fittings, certainly since before I joined in 2017 .. many thanks to them both for their sterling work down the years and best wishes on the green. Anyone who fancies joining the committee is encouraged to add their name to the nominations list which is in the clubhouse. Incumbents will be finalised at the AGM.

The green was closed by our greenskeepers today as the worm casts are worse than ever .. attention now turns to work preparing the green for it’s winter hibernation. It’s been decided to get a professional outfit in to do the heavy work to the green but they’ll be a call for help for other key work at some time soon .. so get your holidays in now! We start our programme of winter socials on the first Tuesday of every month .. more details soon.

Tue 3rd Oct 7:30pm – first winter social

Tue 7th Nov 7:30pm – winter social

Tue 14th Nov 7:30pm – AGM

Fri 17th Nov 6:30pm – Presentation Dinner at Fulwell Golf Club

NB: The main club bar is moving to winter opening hours .. closed on Monday evenings and open from 7pm Tues-Thurs; 6pm on Friday.

The men retained the honours on Saturday 16th in the annual Men v Women competition. It was a close affair but not even Alexa could come up with the answers as the men won 3-2 on rinks and 74-68 on overall shots. This completes a hat-trick of wins for the men but I’m sure the women will make it even tougher next season. The day was nicely rounded off with a bbq courtesy of Nikki & Dennis and some fine bonhomie to match the occasion.

Our penultimate team match of the season at Chertsey was called off after the forecast of heavy rain came true on Sunday afternoon. This leaves one last match to play at Bishop Duppas on Saturday 23rd .. please get your name down on the list if you’d like to play.

The season continues with Tuesday’s Club Night on 19th and, hopefully, 26th too!