BEDWELLTY PARK 106 v THE WORLD 112

TOMORROW THE WORLD

“Goodbye,” I said, “I’m off to play bowls.” “What’s new?” responded my wife. It was a rhetorical question, but, on this occasion, it was worth answering. “Well, if you must know,” I said, “This time I’m playing for the World“, “Oh yes” , she said, “that’s nice”. And who are you playing against? Mars? Venus? Uranus? “No” I replied, “We’re playing against Bedwellty Park” “They’ve not much chance,” she replied. “Have a good game”.

The sport just had to be Bowls. Surely, in no other sport on this planet could Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, dream of taking on the World! Put it this way. If the best players of the Sirhowy Valley did take on the World Tennis, or Golf, or Rugby, the rest of the World would hear about it. The papers would be there. So would the TV cameras. And Police in great numbers.

Admittedly the Mayor of Blaenau Gwent turned up. So did a handful of spectators, by and large the spouses and partners of the players. Some club members who were not picked for this prestigious match generally forgave the Selectors, sat on the bench under the trees, and watched with spaniel eyes. No Paparazzi. No pressmen. No Police. No Princesses. Despite the fact Mrs Di (should it be Dai ?) Windsor is not only Princess of Wales - but also the Patron of the Welsh Bowling Association. The match was in honour of the WBA Secretary, Alan Williams. Correction. It was in honour of the President of the World Bowling Board, Alan Williams. Tredegar’s number one son.

Now, dear reader, put your hand on your heart swear you knew who the President of the World was. There you are. That’s bowls for you ! Hard working, soft spoken, low profile, Alan Williams of Bedwellty Park had , in the spring of 1994, been the sports supreme for high on two years.

Let me tell you a secret. During his term in office, Alan played lead for me in one of the Barbarian’s fixtures. No one announced him, or said who he was. The President of the World, no less, introduced himself to his opposing lead as “Alan”. out bowled him, had tea, and went home happy.

Pomp and ceremony? Protocol? Celebrity status? Certainly not. This is bowls. There’s a game to get on with, new friends to be made. No time for niceties. No one knew they had been visited by the World Bowls President.

But before hid stint was up, he was throwing a party. This was it. It was not a shindig at the Ritz, paid for by the World Bowling Board. Not a prestige match between the game’s giants. Oh no. It was a friendly roll up.

A 21 end bowls match, between friend. Bedwellty Park v The World ! And Alan invited me to play ! Now that’s something.