WELLINGTON Bowling Club members took to the outdoors for their annual ‘Opening of the Green’ ceremony on Saturday which marks the start of the summer season, writes Brian Wombwell.

Club members, dressed in their new club shirts, assembled ready for the official team photograph on the edge of the green and clapped and cheered their honoured guests onto the green.

Mayor of Wellington Bob Bowrah and club president Roland Bath led the procession to the green, followed by the Mayor’s lady Liz Bowrah and club chairman Geoff Stamp, with team captains Paul Kelly, Gill Groves and Ian Thomson.

The president addressed the members, congratulating them on their successes achieved last year and said he hoped that the club would build on these for the coming season.

He thanked Paul Kelly and his team for all the work they had done over the winter in preparing the green, which is now in excellent condition. The mayor congratulated the club on all the improvements that had been completed, both to the club building and grounds over the past two years.

Speeches over, amid cheers from the members, the president rolled the first bowl of the season and then invited the mayor to roll the second bowl. The president then shouted the words that the members were waiting to hear: “The green is now open”.

The ceremonial part now completed, club members formed into teams and started the first ‘roll up’ of the season and, as if by magic, the sun came out!

At 4pm the tea bell was rung and the players returned to the clubhouse to join their guests. Everyone enjoyed an excellent buffet tea prepared by Diane Troake, Joan Thomson and Jenny Vile and drinks from the bar ably manned by Richard Whiting and Eddie Dilley. After tea there was a raffle of Easter treats and the club president thanked everyone for attending.

All things considered it was a splendid afternoon.