 Some of our members at the beginning of the 2009 Season Our Lady President Avis Bartlett leads off with the first bowl of the season whilst the men's captain Richard Cooper & the ladies captain Anne Harding await their turn. NEW CLUB PRESIDENT – AVIS BARTLETT Phear Park President this season is Avis Bartlett. Avis has been a member of Phear Park Bowling Club for 19 years and has a distinguished playing record. She was Ladies Champion in 1996; won the 2 wood title in 1992 and the handicap competition in both 1996 and 1998. Avis won the mixed pairs title in 1992 with Craig Ralph and in 2002 was part of the successful triples along with Isobel Richards and Betty Thomas. Avis was Ladies Treasurer for seven years in the 1990s. ============================================================================================ 
HARRY WILKES – BOWLER EXTRODINAIRE Harry Wilkes is the oldest bowling member at Phear Park and we suspect probably the oldest regular bowler in the county. Harry was born in the Midlands in 1915. He joined the RAF just before the second world war and in 1939 along with a group of other RAF technicians he was posted to Singapore. At the last minute Harry’s posting was changed and he was sent to a naval air station in Sussex. All of his colleagues arrived in Singapore to be captured or killed by the Japanese. During the course of the war Harry saw service in Malta, Sardinia and Italy. Harry is the proud possessor of the Malta Medal awarded by the Maltese government to all servicemen serving in Malta in 1942-43. In 1938 he met his wife Mona while doing technical training at St. Athans in south Wales. Harry and Mona were married in Barry in 1940. Harry returned to Barry after being demobbed in 1945. The RAF was recruiting former service personnel and Harry returned to work at St Athans as a civilian. He worked for the RAF until he retired in 1976 and helped Mona run a confectioners/gift shop in Llantwit Major. Harry’s connection with the RAF earned him the Imperial Services Medal an honour unique to civilians In 1976 Harry discovered bowls. Visiting his daughter in Devon, his son-in-law’s father then captain of City of Exeter Bowling club invited Harry to a “roll up”. Harry took to it immediately and on his return to Barry he joined the local Romilly Park club. Harry played there until 2003 when his wife’s poor health led to Harry deciding to move to Lympstone to live with his daughter, Maureen, well known locally for her work in the local surgery. Then came a piece of good fortune for Phear Park Bowling Club as Harry decided to join the oldest club in Exmouth. “Harry from Barry” as he is popularly known soon made an impact both off and on the green. No more so than on his 94th birthday when he supplied a glass of wine for all participants in the Axon cup competition. The best Axon Cup afternoon most of us can remember! One of the fascinating things about bowls is anyone of any age can play. This season Harry has bowled with, and against, a 10 year old and a 14 year old. What other sport allows that? Harry has also turned out for Phear Park’s over-60s “A” team. Harry is a gentleman; always good natured, courteous; always immaculately turned out he looks to have stepped out of a catalogue selling bowls clothing! We look forward to six years time as Harry plants another wood on the jack and a telegram boy comes rushing on to the green crying “Telegram for Mr Wilkes!” ================================================================ | 
