The posters were up, the social media posted, and friends informed. Numerous club members arrived to mow the green, get out the bowls equipment, line up the teas and coffees, and set out the pens and membership forms on the ‘reception desk’. The sun was in position and the clouds had been banished.
We were getting all set for 10am and the start of Taster Day, when at ten to ten the first potential new bowlers arrived, keen to get on with things. We took their details and handed them over to a coach and helper to take them on the green.
It was the beginning of a good day with a steady flow of people having a go, enough to keep our team of coaches busy but not overwhelmed, with no one having to wait for a coach or rink to come free. There was pause about midday, which enabled our volunteers to grab some lunch, and start a few ad hoc roll-ups on unused rinks.
The event wound down and stopped pretty much as scheduled at 3pm.
Totting up the numbers, 35 people came to have a go, and 15 of them signed up as full members (at our special introductory rate of £35), plus three more social members. In one go, this pretty much made up for the number of former members who didn’t renew this year, so we are back at about the 100 mark. And there might be a few more who are thinking about it and might come to Club Night on Tuesday.
It won’t include the couple from Saltash, who happened to be visiting Wadebridge, dropped in to have a go and enjoyed it. It’s a bit far for them to travel every week, but Saltash club might well be gaining two new members. Those two early arrivals? They were our first two new members.
There will be a Junior Taster day for 8-18 years olds on 30th May, and a second Taster Day on 4th July, for which we are not expecting any Americans. It’s nothing to do with 4th July keeping them otherwise occupied – we never get any Americans.
Photos: Pat Archer
