DINNER TIME: Stonyhill bowlers and guests take their places for the after-match dinner.
Something distinctly fishy has been going on during a friendly fixture at Stonyhill Bowls Club on Sunday February 19, 2012 when visiting players from the Piscatorial Bowling Society held their traditional raffle of kippers to raise funds for good causes.
TOP RINK: Stonyhill captain Byron Davies (right) congratulates John Farmer, Val Wills, Sandie Westlake and David Pigram.
Society members don’t have a club of their own. Instead, they play at the invitation of other clubs … and there is no shortage of offers.
The society dates back to 1947 when porters from Billingsgate Fish Market challenged workers from Smithfield Meat Market to a variety of sports. After the games, they held a raffle with prizes of kippers and meat.
The raffle proceeds were spent in the pub until one particular year when celebrations got out of hand and the market workers ended up with a bill to cover the damage. After that, it was decided that the proceeds would be given to charity.
The society’s visit to Stonyhill raised another £142 towards their annual target of £7,000 for charities across the south-east region.
All seven rinks were in play for the friendly which was won by Stonyhill with an overall score of 151 – 102.
At the after-match dinner, home captain-for-the-day Byron Davies presented pens to his top rink: Sandie Westlake, David Pigram, Val Wills and John Farmer (skip).
As a forfeit, Piscatorial players on the team which lost by the greatest number of points performed the traditional task of handing out 20 large bags of kippers to the raffle winners!
HOME TEAMS: Three of the Stonyhill teams which took part in the friendly match against Piscatorial.
