A coach party from Brentwood Bowling Club headed across the border into Suffolk for their first-ever friendly against Aldeburgh Bowling Club on Friday 9th August.

Despite a dismal forecast, the weather stayed fine and the day-trippers had a chance to explore the quaint seaside town and sample its famous fish and chips before moving on to the picturesque bowls club.

Six rinks of triples were played and Brentwood won the day by seven shots with the final score 91 – 84. Men’s captain Richard Rose presented small botles of wine to players on the Brentwood top rink – skip Steve Shute, lead Kate Davies and John Young.

CHEERS!: John Young, left, Kate Davies and Steve Shute with their winning rink prizes.

After the game, players enjoyed a tea of sandwiches, savouries and cakes which Richard Rose described as the best spread he had seen in more than 30 years of bowling. As a token of the visitors’ appreciation, ladies’ captain Margaret Rayment presented a box of chocolates to the  Aldeburgh ladies who organised the catering.

Margaret took along a selection of prizes to be raffled in aid of the host club … and to her surprise, she held the first winning ticket drawn. Although the Suffolk players won some prizes, others went back on the coach to Brentwood with Pam Baker, Julie Dixon and Brian Martin.

Brentwood also picked up the first prize of a bottle of Pimm’s in a seaside picture competition which was won by Ann Rose with a score of 17.5 out of 20.

TEA TIME: Players and spectators enjoy a welcome break.

TASTE TEST: Geoff Byatt and John Howard check out the renowned beers at the 18th Century White Hart pub in the High Street.

BEACH BOYS: Patrick Miller and John Young take a seafront stroll to work up an appetite for their fish-and-chips lunch.