Doreen B, from North West Surrey Visually Impaired Bowling Group (NWSVIBG), had been in touch with Brian, in relation to a match, but more importantly, with Hans for the overall arrangements for the day.

  Hans, with Ev and Norman, met the coach and they acted as tour guides to show our guests around Rochester, before meeting with almost the entire RBBG contingent, for lunch at the Eagle Tavern. (Thank you, Steve, Hayley and, of course, Adam - for all your efforts - we recommend anyone to visit for great lunches and fine beer). The food was good, the service speedy and we were all at Cranborne, by the appointed hour, for our match.

  NWSVIBG had six VI bowlers who, with three sighted bowlers, made three triples. RBBG fielded nine VI bowlers for the match triples, while Penny, Trudy, Anne and Bill combined with Tom and Brian for a very enjoyable side match – of girls against boys.

  The day had never been cold, but it warmed up, considerably, for our match, which was pretty tight on all rinks, with a lot of good bowling.

  The very good RBBG trio, of Marian, Terry and Hans, were 8-4 down, after nine ends, but three shots in end ten helped them to square the match, 8-8, after eleven ends. In the next end, Pam, Margaret and Bernard took four shots and another two, in the thirteenth. Those two ends were decisive. Shots were shared in the final ends and RBBG went down, 17-11.

  The match on rink two was a thriller. John, David and Chris were 8-2 up, after six, but Lilian, Tony and Steve pulled them back to 8-8, after ten. RBBG inched ahead again, 11-9, after fourteen, but two shots to the visitors, in the penultimate end, squared the match, at 11-11, going into the final end. On a very long jack, Tony took shot, till Chris ran the jack, with his first, for shot, then put in another very good wood, to take two. Steve was unable to match it and it was a narrow 13-11 RBBG win.

  Rink honours, however, go to Doreen, Bella and Peter. Just one shot, in each of the first seven ends, saw RBBG trailing to George, Ron and Doreen, but then two, four and five shots saw RBBG to a 14-4 lead. Back came NWSVIG, with five of their own, to trail by five. The honours were broadly shared, over the final ends, and the final score was 19-14, in RBBG’s favour.

  So, great bowling, on the green, and we retired to the pavilion. The original plan had been for tea and biscuits, but after the fantastic spread provided at the tournament, in Woking, a couple of weeks earlier, the decision was made to provide a more extensive tea. Bella and Chris were the prime cooks, with Pat and Ev the key workers, on the day, in the kitchen, but thanks to everyone, Ann and Shirley to the fore who provided food and muscle on the day. And another big thank you to everyone for responding with raffle prizes, so that a lot of people took something home, and £73 was generated for St Dunstan’s.

  There was a lovely, relaxed atmosphere over tea, a really good feeling and it was not over, yet. An impromptu performance, from Hans on guitar and Bernard on harmonica, got everyone singing, after which David took centre stage, to tell a few jokes. It looked like it might have been able to go on for some good time yet, but the proceedings drew to a close on a really good day for everyone. Lots of people played a part, but step forward Hans, for a job very well done. A long day, but you should sleep the sleep of the just, tonight. Thank you, Doreen, for bringing it together, on the Woking side, and let’s hope our paths will cross, again, next year.