Thursday 24 July 2008

Bowled Out

You don't have to be retired to plays bowls, although it seems to help! This is one of two bowling greens in Cheltenham belonging to Cheltenham Bowling Club. This one is at the end of the High Street at St Georges Square, the other is in Suffolk Square. The bowling club was founded in 1883 with this green opened in 1924 for the use of ex-servicemen. The reason I decided to post on bowls was that I had seen a report on the local news about the imminent demise of this past time due to the lack of young blood, but after looking into it I found that the Cheltenham club has 150 members and is bucking this trend. So much for local news!

Yesterday I asked if anyone could see what the children on the panel are making. The eagle eyed Dusty Lens got the right answer - they are building bicycles. If you look at the panel again you can see (from the right) a wheel, a chain guard, handle bars and two bike frames. Although I still don't know why they are building bikes!

12 comments:

MJ said...

Hi Marley, we have this sport here as well. Think they are called Lawn Bowl. Not sure the rules are exactly the same as yours.

Guess it's nature of the game which is more on the slow side which does not appeal to young people.

Neva said...

This is lawn bowling, right? Bocce Ball is very similar.....the lawn bowlers of the world are VERY serious.....even if they are a dying breed! or so some think!

Ming the Merciless said...

I lost my marbles and I can't find it. ;-)

It looks like they were just standing around looking for something.

Bergson said...

a sport for yongest

Anonymous said...

I don't understand bowling on the lawn but I have always seen old people doing it.

Marie said...

Very cute scene and beautiful photo. Is that game similar to pétanque ?

Lori said...

This photo is so charming. Lawn bowling strikes me as a very English past-time. (I would never have guessed they were building bikes in your last photo!)

Jane Hards Photography said...

Oh yes we have the violent old biddies here too. Now this is a very deciving pic of them looking innocently at the bowls, but we need a scene in action. Throwing around the heavy wooden bowls at the poor jack. Great, english photograph.

Knoxville Girl said...

Dear UK,
What is this bowls of which you speak? I take it has nothing remotely to do with the Big Lebowski.
Best Regards,
America

I do like the way you've framed this - the players seem to be deep in conversation.

• Eliane • said...

I like that specific moment in pétanque when they gather around the balls to figure out the winner. You captured it very well!

Rob said...

We play a similar game here in our backyards, bocce. Of course our yards are not as nearly well manicured, we do have fun...and beer is involved.

Thanks! I won the question of the relief panels. Did I win a Guinness?

Chuck Pefley said...

Marley, I love the posture of these bowlers. Lovely image :)

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