Following the popularity of last years reports on P&C matches I have agreed to assist President Eddie Long by submitting reports for this season. At these matches, with permission of the host club, Eddie will be collecting for his charity Leukaemia. Some twelve years ago Eddie and Gill’s 22 year old son David was tragically taken from them by this terrible illness, and it is Eddie’s aim to raise as much money during the year to help research the disease for those in the age group of teenagers to early thirties. David himself had been a bowler and played regularly for Milton Regis and the Kent under 25 team. We wish him well.  Mick Collins

Thursday 9^th May: GEC Avionics.

The first match of the season was at GEC Avionics in division 3 who were celebrating their 50^th anniversary. Eddie was hoping to meet with two old friends at this club, but sadly Brian Medhurst had passed away and Len Mortley had given up bowls, but still it was an enjoyable day, as soon as the President had been re-directed to the right car park. The match itself was won 135 – 109 by the P&C team, Eddie feels sure his rink would have done much better had his skip, Senior Vice President Tony Runeckles, remembered to change over from his indoor woods to his outdoor set.

We went to the main clubhouse for the after match meal at which Eddie presented the usual gifts to President George Aldous and Captain Brian Trill.

£83 was kindly raised for the President’s charity through the donation boxes on the table.

Thank you GEC Avionics for a memorable start to our season

Tuesday 14^th May: Wrotham

The second match of the season was at Wrotham, another division 3 club who were celebrating 25 years. On this occasion Eddie together with his Junior Vice President Rodney Clark arrived so early that the padlocks were still on the gates, so reluctantly they took refuge in the local public house to pass away some time before the host members arrived. Eventually, as far as they can recall, they were greeted by President Brian Wicks and Captain Colin Francis and Chairlady Jane Williams. Wrotham BC has a wonderful setting but unfortunately the drizzly weather prevented first time visitors to the club appreciating how nice it is.

The match was won by the P&C team 93-57 and the after match meal was served in ‘the old dairy’ a part of the near by public house.

Eddie had been joined by his full presidential team, eight past presidents and four county officers.

Thank you Wrotham for your warm welcome and we wish you well for your next 25 years.

Friday 17^th May: Norfolk Tourist

The third P&C match on 17^th May was at Aylesham & Snowdown BC where we greeted the visiting Norfolk Tourist team. They were playing matches in East Kent during their visit and had played against the club earlier in the week. This clearly gave them some advantage as we lost the match 103-122 to a team that included ex England player and now International selector, John Ottaway.

Thursday 23^rd May: Faversham

Our next match was at Faversham BC in division 4, a club that has been around since 1926 and President Eddie was returning to another club that he had played at regularly with his own club, Milton Regis. He was greeted by President Aubrey Camp and Captain Albert Walker. The match was won by the P&C team 136- 107 and the teams were very satisfied with their after match meal.

Thank you Faversham for your welcome, we enjoyed our visit to your club.

Wednesday 5^th June: Aylesham & Snowdown

Our next fixture was at Aylesham and Snowdown in division 4 where the President and his team were warmly welcomed by club President Gordon Parfitt and Captain Bob Jarvie. The club itself had been resurrected in 1986 after it had been allowed to lay overgrown after closure from its former miner’s days. As usual the green, nurtured by past president Leon King and his team, was in very good condition and playing very well, and the game itself was tied at 125 shots each.

We were treated to a very nice after match meal by the usual team of ladies at the club, and Leon donated the green keepers gratuity to the Presidents charity.

Thank you Aylesham & Snowdown for your usual hospitality and we always look forward to our visits to your club.

Wednesday 12^th June: Patrons

The next game on was the annual battle with the Patrons played at Maidstone BC and in the absence of Chairman Roger Deane, Alan Penney captained the team. Both teams were greeted by club chairman Geoff Chapmam before the game, which as always, was played in a good spirit but on this occasion the P&C team ran out comfortable winners 123 – 103.

The usual team of Maidstone ladies treated us to a very nice meal and Alan and Eddie exchanged the usual gifts before we all dispersed to various parts of the county.

Thank you Maidstone BC, the county headquarters, for hosting the match and looking after us during our visit.

Tuesday 18^th June: Chatham

The next game was at division 3’s Chatham BC where President Trevor Skinner greeted us for a very enjoyable game on a green that was playing exceptionally quick. The club will celebrate its 150^th anniversary in two years time and after the enjoyment on  this  occasion we look forward to another visit in 2015.

Wednesday 19^th June: Civil Service

 The following day we made the short trip from Chatham to Gillingham where we played at Civil Service BC just off of the A2. We were welcomed by old friends, President Jim Masters and his captain Derek Sherress. The Civil Service club is a thriving club which has seen many changes since the re-development of the land around the club, and the P&C team last visited when the new clubhouse was officially opened. It was good to return to the club and the threatening thunderstorms stayed away long enough for us to complete an enjoyable game in which the P&C team won 130-69.

The club ladies treated us all to a very enjoyable meal before the usual speeches were made by club captain Derek and our own President.

Tuesday 25^thJune: Lyminge BC.

This was a game I had to miss but I am assured that I lost the chance to visit a most picturesque setting for a bowls club. With a back drop of open fields of poppies mixed in with ripening corn the P&C team were obviously distracted as they lost the game which celebrated the club’s 80^th anniversary, 84-122.

Club President Max Laker, Chairman John Criddle and Captain Mike Swan were the welcoming committee, but little did President Eddie know that players such as Roger Herridge had been imported to give the home club more strength, and it was he that treated Brian Wigmore to a most uncomfortable afternoon. I am sure ‘Wiggy’ wished he could have crept through the hedge and had an hours sleep amongst the poppies!

As usual the teams were treated to a very nice meal by the Lyminge ladies, by which time the match result was completely forgotten.

Wednesday 26^th June:  Minster BC

Today it was a short journey north to play Minster near Ramsgate, a club that President Eddie and I visited last year with the Patrons to help celebrate their 75^th anniversary, and it was Eddies wish to take his P&C team there this year.

On another glorious summer day we were met by Club President Ken Wooldridge, Chairman Brian East and Captain Bernie Schoder, and the day started with a ‘spider’ of which the proceeds were donated to the President’s charity. The green was in good condition and running fairly free as President Eddie found out when his first two woods damaged the bank after passing skip Geoff Chapman at some speed.

The game was won by the P&C team 161-91, but the best was still to come. As on last years visit we were treated to a most delicious meal, with a very large steak and kidney pudding for the main course and fresh strawberries and cream for dessert. Well done ladies it really was a most wonderful meal.

President Eddie thanked the club for their generous donation to his charity before we made our way back to various parts of the county.

Tuesday 2^nd July: Milton Regis BC.

Today we visited the County Presidents club at Milton Regis in Sittingbourne for a most enjoyable day. We were met by club president Peter Luckhurst and Captain Derek Goodyer and on arrival were treated to a birthday drink by the county chairman Geoff Chapman.

The game was played on a good green but unfortunately the last few ends were played in rain but this did not prevent the P&C team from winning 121-119.

The after match meal, as usual at Milton Regis, was very nice and President Eddie was presented with a commemorative cake to remember the day at his own club. The proceeds from the raffle were split between the president’s and the club’s charity’s.

In his speech Peter Luckhurst revealed a few secrets he had on Eddie, but of course these cannot be made public in this report.

Thank you Milton Regis for a really good day, and I am sure you look forward to Eddie’s next game on the green.

Thursday 4^th July: Essex Tourist @ Canterbury BC

Today we played at Canterbury against the Essex Vice Presidents touring team. The game was w0n by the P&C team 158-82, but as usual the friendship between the two associations was the most important thing. The match was played on a good Canterbury green in bright sunshine, and afterwards we had time to join the tourist for a quick drink before they made their way back to the hotel in Hythe. The following day they were due to play the Kent Patrons at Aylesham and Snowdown BC before crossing the river for home on Saturday.

Thursday 11^th July 2013: VCD Bowls Club.

VCD Bowls Club is in Crayford and was founded by the engineering company Vickers in 1913 hence the club is celebrating its centenary this year. The club has seen many changes over the century no more so than when Vickers announced they were closing their factory, at which time it seemed that the sports facilities would go as well. After some hard work by the members and the timely intervention of Rolls Royce, who now own the land, the club has survived.

Much of this hard work has been down to Chairman Geoff Wells who welcomed us to his club on a warm summer’s day. He was ably assisted by his captain Ron (Rocket) Waldron and they teamed up to hand President Eddie a heavy defeat on the rink and as a match overall. The final result was VCD 120 and the P&C team 108, but all of this was forgotten when we sat down for a delightful celebration tea accompanied by wine provided by our host’s.

Thank you and congratulations VCD and we hope you continue successfully into the next century. I am sure that with the enthusiasm shown during our visit you will.

Tuesday 23^rd July 2013: Queenborough BC.

Queenborough Bowls Club is in division 3 and is situated just on the Isle of Sheppey. Having visited the club last week to watch the quarter and semi finals of the fours, we were all looking forward to actually being able to play on the green. We were greeted to the club by captain Nigel Seager, but before the game could start we had to wait for a heavy thundery shower to pass. When eventually we did start,  the game was won by the P&C team 126-112, but captain Nigel was pleased with the four they got on the last end to win their rink by two.

The ladies of Queenborough provided a very nice meal and Eddie made the usual presentations to Nigel before we all took the trip over the bridge back onto the Kentish mainland.

Thank you Queenborough for another memorable visit to your lovely club.

Thursday 25^th July: Sheerness St Georges BC.

Two days after our visit to the Isle of Sheppey we were back over the bridge to visit Sheerness St Georges BC. We were met by President David Hancock who then handed proceedings over to captain Rod Carr. The match was played on the customary good green at St Georges but on this occasion the host club came out on top with a 123-112 shot victory.

With the visit to St Georges we fondly remembered Doug Stevens who had served the club and county well before his untimely death a year ago.

The pre match spider raised £46 for President Eddie’s charity, and the ladies of St Georges, ably assisted by vice president Brian Gamble, served us with a lovely meal before we made another departure to main land Kent.

Thank you St Georges for another memorable visit to your club and we wish you well in your quest to reach Worthing in the inter club double rink competition.

Tuesday 30^th  July: Cobham BC.

It was with fond memories of the late Brian Chapman when we visited his club at Cobham in division 2, but sadly the skies were full of rain as we made our approach along the M2. Thankfully the rain did relent enough for us to enjoy the game and record a 141-91 shot victory. Captain Ian McDermit welcomed us to the club and the Cobham ladies treated us to a splendid after match meal. President Eddie reflected on his previous visits to the club in years gone by, remembering especially the late night drinking sessions which it would appear he has enjoyed at most clubs we have visited this year.

Thank you Cobham for a memorable day at your club.

Wednesday 7^th August 2013: St Lawerence BC.

Today it was a visit to Ramsgate to play St Lawrence BC who were fresh from their celebrations at the Kent finals at which Chris Fox, Mike Homersham and Ken Weyand had won the triples and the same three with Roger Williams had also won the fours.

In the absence of President Mike Homersham Past President John Gibbs welcomed the P&C team to his club for an enjoyable game which the P&C team won 131-121.

The proceeds of the pre-match ‘spider’ won by Ivan Hoile, together with the money raised by auctioning the bottle won by Ivan, were donated to Eddie’s charity.

The ladies of St Lawrence prepared and served a very nice after match meal before

we made our way back home.

Thank you St Lawrence for an enjoyable day and many of the county officers look forward to supporting your boys at Worthing next week.

Thursday 8^th August: Bromley BC.

This visit was to help the club celebrate their 125^th anniversary, quite some achievement and something to be very proud of. It also presented another chance to meet another county champion in Chris Smith who had won the county singles title, but on this occasion could not handle our rink six expert Allan Chase. In the absence of President Len Chant, Charles Reed welcomed us to the club at which we were treated to bacon sandwiches and a fine selection of real ales. The game itself was won by Bromley 117-97, but given the fact that we were at the club ready for a 2pm start and Bromley had it down as a 2.30pm start, which conveniently gave us an extra 30 minutes of sandwiches and real ales,  you can now understand why we lost!

Thank you Bromley for a smashing day and we wish you well for the future.

Thursday 29^th August 2013: Kent Ladies @ Milton Regis.

The game resulted in a victory for the men with a 133-96 score line with the County Chairman’s rink the only men’s rink to lose. The game was enjoyable and it gives the two sections of the association the chance to meet at least once on the bowling green.

As usual Milton provided another wonderful after match meal with Ernie Smith being head waiter.

Thank you ladies for an enjoyable game and to Milton for your usual hospitality.

Thursday 5^th September 2013: Gravesend RFC.BC

This was the final match in the programme of P&C matches for this season played on one of the hottest September days we could remember, with the temperature reaching 30 degrees. The Bowls Club section President George Johnson welcomed us to his club and the match was played on a good green with the P&C team victorious by 150 shots to 98. The Presidents rink left it late before they eventually won their game by one shot and Allan Chase’s rink picked up a ‘hot shot’ to take them into a lead after being 14-0 down after just a few ends.

After the game we went to the main club for a very welcome drink and an after match meal prepared by the clubs ladies, before President Eddie presented the jug and pennant to captain Brian.

The proceeds from the spider, won by Mick Bannister, were donated to Eddie’s charity.

Thank you GRFC for a memorable day, not only for the weather but also the reception we were given.