SPECIAL DAY AT THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD

Pre-Lockdown, the Royal Household Bowls Club visited Oakley and a return game was scheduled to celebrate the Household's Centenary Year. Covid put an end to that plan but yesterday Oakley were finally able to make the trip. Admirably organised by Captain Anji, our party left Oakley, on Mervyn's coach, just after 9 am and prior to visiting the Club in Windsor Great Park, we spent 3 hours in Windsor. Some visited the Castle, others walked by the Thames and some even went shopping. None of this was good preparation for finely tuned athletes expecting to participate in a competitive match. Things went from bad to worse when, having negotiated security, we arrived at the green to be met by Captain Alan whose first words were "the bar is open". The bar area is full of momentos of the Club's history and it was particularly interesting to view the photo of King George V opening the green and to see displayed the bowls he used. The start of the match was slightly delayed, but Oakley made a strong start and any fears, that, on a warm afternoon, the morning's exertions would cause us to flag in the latter stages, soon disappeared. Oakley won on 5 of the 6 rinks and the overall score was well in our favour.

After a match, that was thoroughly enjoyed by the participants, the Royal Household provided us with an excellent two course buffet following which Captain Alan and President Spencer made the traditional speeches. Alan had great pleasure in presenting a Royal Household tie to Oakley's Ron Baxter, who had substituted for the Household and Spencer presented gifts to his best rink of Lesley Allard/Carolyn Brown, Jonathan Scott, Ruth Bown and Richard Startin. By now the bar was running out of white wine, but we stayed on to watch the Lionesses triumph over Germany in the Euro final before boarding the coach for our return journey. It was a wonderful day with hugely friendly and hospitable hosts and Oakley members were unanimous in hoping the two Clubs will meet up again.