At that point she had been involved in the organising of no less than 14 tours. Only in 2016 did she not see a tour through to its conclusion. Having initiated the tour she became unwell and Gill Hinksman stepped forward to see it through to a very good conclusion in Eastbourne. It was an excellent and memorable week. Since 2014 there has been fourteen tours --starting in Weymouth and ending in Sidmouth. Between these there were return visits to Bournemouth in 2011 and 2017. In the first of these there was an incredible event when Marion Brailey and John Kington were hurled a long way into the air from a machine on the sea front. There was a big audience ---lots of bowlers amongst them to see it happen. They were both smiling when they returned to earth, and ---- it was sponsored. Two visits to the Clarence House Hotel in Tenby --- 2007and 2015 --- and memories here of visiting Caldy Island by boat on a glorious day, but also the Friday morning swim in the sea -- quite a few bowlers joined in. Exmouth was the destination in 2013 and 2014 --- staying at the Manor House ---- enjoying not only the bowling but also the sea views and a ride on the White Swans --- not real ones, on the Sea Front. This did require a little pedal power.
Two visits to Sandown --- 2008 and 2018 and memories of staying at the Trouville Hotel for the second of the two visits. Being situated almost on the beach made that early morning swim easy for George, Julie and occasionally a few others. Newquay was re-visited in 2012, there was a visit to Paignton in 2009 and Ilfracombe was the destination in 2005. Tours, wherever they go are to be enjoyed and to create memories. Whether it be something that somebody did or perhaps somewhere visited during the tour ----- the visit to Brighton and the Brighton Doughnut ( not edible) during the 2016 tour based in Eastbourne is something not to be forgotten. Each tour is a little different ---but some things are always there ---- wearing a duck or a sheep around your neck for 24 hours when your rink didn’t do very well today but equally the joy of winning a prize if it did. How about the daily diddle where everyone has a ticket with a number on and if your team scores the corresponding number of shots --you win but ---- if you don’t win that you may win a prize for most correct answers in the daily quiz. So --- what started out in 1984 is still alive today and will hopefully continue for many years to come. Names and faces may have changed but the magic of the Summer Tour goes on.
For information about the club and its activities please call David Hinksman on 0117 9082713 9
