Was it beer and skittles – or power play and demolition?

By Jenny Stock

The more pleasant English traditions are live and kicking in Little Marlow. Some 60 people from local churches and their guests turned up to try their skills at skittles.
They had a most enjoyable evening at the Village Hall on 4 October, and at the same time raised proceeds for the Kimberley and Kuruman (K & K) church funds in South Africa.
Unlike the modern game played around the world in fully automated tenpin bowling alleys, they played the old English pub game using wooden skittles and balls on a portable alley that they had hired for the evening.

The guests were randomly divided into eight teams. Each player had three balls to knock all the skittles down. The wooden balls measure about 150mm (six inches) in diameter. The skittles are set up in a diamond formation. After each ball is bowled the skittles that fall are left where they are – unlike the modern game where the fallen skittles are automatically swept off the alley.
Each skittle knocked down counted as one point and the game continued until everybody had bowled. The highest scoring team won a prize of sweets.
Some of the male bowlers resorted to some power play tactics compared to the more sedate bowling from the ladies. Some competitors managed to demolish all the skittles with their three balls and a few even managed it with two balls.
Glynn Lewis did a great job in organising the games.

After the first bowling session it was time for supper and a most well-organised catering team conjured up a wonderful meal of chilli con carne, jacket potatoes and salad, followed by generous portions of gateau.
After the food everyone was keen to get bowling again, but the bowling challenge was increased when players had to throw their three balls at only three skittles set up in a straight line one behind the other. This didn’t prove difficult enough for some players and the best bowlers in this game finally competed against each other using only one pin. More sweets being awarded to the winners
The evening proved a most successful social event and everyone that attended extend their thanks to all those that helped to organise this event.

Larger versions of the photographs can be seen here...