News & Updates
A monthly club newsletter was started on a trial basis at the start on the 2023 summer season and has been well-received. We'll be continuing to mail out a weekly newsletter (monthly during the winter) and so this page will see fewer articles being posted. When time allows, the newsletters sent so far will be gathered and made available on our web site.
Red Nose Day, 2024
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The last Shortmat League fixtures coincided with Red Nose Day this year. Sandra & John organised us to raise some money to be donated and here's the message from Sir Lenny Henry himself thanking Sandra and the rest of us for the donation.
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Benevolent Triples Presentation, October 2023
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Two teams took part in the Ladies Benevolent Triples Comp at Gloucester City/Spa in July. The team consisting of Stella, Veronica and Wendy won the Plate and were presented with 'the alternative plate' at this month's GBA Presentation Event.
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Triples Day Spider Donation
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Marg recently donated our accumulated charity money from the Triples Day Spider competition.
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From the Archives - September 2018
Five years ago, the old changing rooms still stood, but not for long. A couple of weekends saw the contents emptied, building dismantled and land flatted ready for the layout we have today.
One of the items removed was an old honours board with names most of us only associate with trophies that we aspire to win one day. |
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Finals Day, September 2023
Congratulations to all our Finals Day winners : John Norman, John Norman, John & Sandra Norman, Steve & Niall Spencer, Mick Neale & Jim Oates, Sally Neale and Jason Roberts. Congratulations and thanks also to Marg who once again organised our club comps from prelim rounds through to finals and also managed a big smile on every trophy presentation photo.
There are more photos on the Finals Day Gallery page. If you have any photographs we could use, please send them to Chris or Martin.
There are more photos on the Finals Day Gallery page. If you have any photographs we could use, please send them to Chris or Martin.
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Triples Day, July 2023
Forty-four players gathered for this year's Sea-Life themed Triples Day. The day was mostly overcast but there was only one short interruption to play due to rain. In a final which went into the last end all-square, Sean's team of Pollocks (Sean, Lisa, Chris & Paul) narrowly beat Dave Giles' team of Squeakers (Dave, Roy & Gill). There's a selection of photographs from the day in our Gallery. Our thanks to Malcolm, Marcia, Mick & Martin for providing the photos. Of course, the biggest thanks of the day go to Marg who once again set-up a fun day enjoyed by all.
From the Archives - April, 2020
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This month (April), three years ago, we were in lockdown and the Government cancelled our Opening of the Green. Well, that's what they thought. We came up with what was probably a world first - the Virtual Opening of the Green.
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Shortmat Charitable Donation
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The money raised from book sales and Hitting The Box, along with donations by Shortmat Killer game winners was donated to South Western Air Ambulance. The donation was also boosted by the Pershore Club who visited us on their way home from tour last September and donated the remains of their tour drinks kitty.. As usual, the charity took time to acknowledge and thank us for the donation. Our thanks to all players, may you hit the box just as often next season.
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A Message From Derek Shergold
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Derek has mailed us to say that, with regret, he won't be returning to bowls. He's been putting off the final decision until now in the hope that his back and knee issues would improve and allow him to play a full game, but that's not to be.
In more recent years, Derek will be remembered for running the winter bingo evenings and being part of the Shortmat 'Young Ones' team which topped the league every year going back from 2018 to as far as anyone can remember. Derek played bowls for over 50 years, playing his first club game aged 16 with the Gloucester Bowling Club. Derek became their youngest ever Captain at the age of 19 when very few members had a telephone. Derek always played an active part in our club, holding the office of Chairman from 1997 to 2016. Derek was also a long-term member of the JMC, back in the days when as well as the two bowling clubs the Coop Sports and Social Club was active. As a life member, Derek will always be welcomed at the club and should he appear at the club, I'm sure he'll not be allowed to pay for his own drink. We wish Derek well in all he does in the future. |
Team Captains, 2023
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The Team Captains gathered during February to prepare for the new season. Braving the club when the heating had only just been switched on, they all managed smiles for the group photo.
Unfortunately, Phil Patterson (July) and Gordon Avery (Monday Triples) were missing for the photoshoot Good Luck teams for 2023. |
Jim (May); Sean (August); Steve (League); Roy (June/Sept).
Niall (Sunday 'A'); Veronica (Ladies); Stella (Vice Ladies); Annie (April); John (Sunday 'B') |
Joy Heath
It's with great sadness that we've had to say goodbye to Joy Heath this year. She was a stalwart of the club and served as honorary secretary for a number of years. Joy and Geoff came to us when the Civil Service Bowls Club closed. Joy was always a joy to meet and talk to, always cheerful, even in the last year when she was unwell. A good all round player and we'll miss her greatly. RIP Joy
15th December 2022
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Presentation Night 2022
Thought I must give a response to the evening of Saturday 12th November 2022
What a great evening, everything seemed to go exceptionally well, starting with Colin in his Co-op regalia nice to see for us oldies. Now the only disappointment was the turn out sad that so many missed an enjoyable event, but as they say the choice was theirs. The actual presentation was well co-ordinated, Margaret again excelled does a great job and of course aided by Colin. Nice to hear and see the awards applauded with a few caustic humorous comments passed to the winners and runners up. Then we were treated to a glorious meal, the Co-op ladies, (and maybe one or two fellows) certainly know how to prepare, cook & bake but also how to present their produce. Was a very nice touch to have the meals placed on pre-warmed hot plates (10 out of 10 for this). But of course appearance is not the main factor, everything boils (pun not intended) down to satisfying the palate and this for both me & Margaret (Wallace) was achieved to a very high degree a nice touch to have French sticks pre-cut and the Naan bread. Must not forget after the main meal we were again treated to delicious deserts. Can’t imagine any one not enjoying the choice and distinctive favours of the hot and cold foods available, Well done to all the hard working Ladies/(perhaps a man or two) who gave us some thing to enjoy and remember, Thank you all.
Oh and mustn’t forget that on leaving was presented with a large bowl filled to the brim with a desert we initially had not selected “Banoffee” pie, whoa this was something else and with a small drop of cream went down very/very well, can’t add much to this except when are you doing this again. Only trouble is all those who missed out will no doubt have learnt/heard of the excellent job preformed and will swamp the lounge with their presence.
Margaret and I will say it again Thank you for an extremely enjoyable evening
Kind regards Charles & Margaret Wallace
What a great evening, everything seemed to go exceptionally well, starting with Colin in his Co-op regalia nice to see for us oldies. Now the only disappointment was the turn out sad that so many missed an enjoyable event, but as they say the choice was theirs. The actual presentation was well co-ordinated, Margaret again excelled does a great job and of course aided by Colin. Nice to hear and see the awards applauded with a few caustic humorous comments passed to the winners and runners up. Then we were treated to a glorious meal, the Co-op ladies, (and maybe one or two fellows) certainly know how to prepare, cook & bake but also how to present their produce. Was a very nice touch to have the meals placed on pre-warmed hot plates (10 out of 10 for this). But of course appearance is not the main factor, everything boils (pun not intended) down to satisfying the palate and this for both me & Margaret (Wallace) was achieved to a very high degree a nice touch to have French sticks pre-cut and the Naan bread. Must not forget after the main meal we were again treated to delicious deserts. Can’t imagine any one not enjoying the choice and distinctive favours of the hot and cold foods available, Well done to all the hard working Ladies/(perhaps a man or two) who gave us some thing to enjoy and remember, Thank you all.
Oh and mustn’t forget that on leaving was presented with a large bowl filled to the brim with a desert we initially had not selected “Banoffee” pie, whoa this was something else and with a small drop of cream went down very/very well, can’t add much to this except when are you doing this again. Only trouble is all those who missed out will no doubt have learnt/heard of the excellent job preformed and will swamp the lounge with their presence.
Margaret and I will say it again Thank you for an extremely enjoyable evening
Kind regards Charles & Margaret Wallace
Bar Refit - Two Days Work In A Minute
Over the weekend (15th/16th Oct), the back of the bar had a refit. The whole 10 hours of effort has been captured in this video that lasts just over a minute. Yes it is jerky as it's made from time frame photos.
Thanks goes to all those captured in the last frame (Sean, Dave, Liz, Chris, Marcia, Martin and Nick), along with Annie, Mark, Kevin, Gill, Ali, David, Margaret, Colin and Phil who helped earlier in the project.
Extra special thanks goes to John Norman & Malcolm Williams without whose expertise, skill and eternal patience with those less competent, none of this would have happened. When you watch the video, remember that for every frame, when one of John or Malcolm is missing, it means they were somewhere else, measuring, sawing, sanding, planing or generally making sure that the rest of us were working to their standard.
A real team effort and we think, a good outcome and improvement on the bar appearance. The back bar has also been revamped and looking a lot tidier with more storage space.
Thanks goes to all those captured in the last frame (Sean, Dave, Liz, Chris, Marcia, Martin and Nick), along with Annie, Mark, Kevin, Gill, Ali, David, Margaret, Colin and Phil who helped earlier in the project.
Extra special thanks goes to John Norman & Malcolm Williams without whose expertise, skill and eternal patience with those less competent, none of this would have happened. When you watch the video, remember that for every frame, when one of John or Malcolm is missing, it means they were somewhere else, measuring, sawing, sanding, planing or generally making sure that the rest of us were working to their standard.
A real team effort and we think, a good outcome and improvement on the bar appearance. The back bar has also been revamped and looking a lot tidier with more storage space.