Geriatric Think Tank's latest topics

Memories

Regular readers may recall that I make occasional reference to a small but select group of five teammates I attend every week for a couple of pints and a couple of hours where many topics are discussed. There are five members of this 'Geriatric Think Tank' and we have been meeting for several years on the same evening of the week.

Once discussion has figured out which one of us is missing that particular evening and why, discussion turns to a range of other matters of interest to a group of two 90+ year olds, one 80+ and two of us in our late 70's. Once the merits or otherwise of contestants on the latest broadcasting of Mastermind and University Challenge has been thoroughly dissected then it is frequently the case that we turn to bowling matters which is what brought us together in the first place.

This week the subject of personal jacks was raised. This has been raised a number of times within the group before but never at such depth as it was this last week. First of all, for my benefit, there was a definition of what a personal jack was. Up until an undefined date (we are old buggers you know and cannot always remember such trivial matters) bowlers used their own jacks in matches. This jack could be of undefined weight and bias and the lettering on it never gave a clue as to the answer to either of these basic questions.

Bowlers would purchase a jack that exactly matched the bias of their favourite woods. This could be anything from 1.75 to 2.50 full bias. In those days bowlers would not expect to tell their opponent what bias they were bowling and bowlers would not ask. It was sufficient for the bowler holding the jack to show his opponent the hold he was using and he would have to work out if it was finger or thumb. Seeing as there was no lettering or clue on the jack, this became something or a logistical non-event. There was a dimple where the bias was obvious but this was usually well covered by the holder's fingers.

The bowler would uncover his personal jack whenever he was leading and it would be carefully put away under a cloth whenever his opponent was leading. This of course, was a huge advantage to the bowler leading at the first end and why holding the first jack was much more revered and important than it is nowadays. The antics of some bowlers to protect the identity of their own jack was a matter of much hilarity in the group. The two 90-year-olds saw nothing wrong in this practice; it was just how things were in those days.

One thing that was not popular some years ago and rarely recognised as being within the spirit of the game was 'firing'. It was almost unheard of in the days when bowling was at its height of popularity but that changed over the years. The two 90+ year olds had different recollections (not unusual) of the introduction of the art of firing. Names of bowlers I had never heard of before were known as firers and there were stories of firing going wrong and the wood leaving the green and injuring individuals and surroundings. In our group the two 90+-year-olds had different views (again not ususual) on the value of firing. One was a vivid supporter and claims to have introduced the 'art' into our club whilst the other member could never recall firing in 60 years of playing the game and would never lower himself to such unsporting tactics.

Discussion turned to floodlights with varying views on how important this had become. Although I was never a young bowler, I was a young footballer and I can recall my first ever match under floodlights, which I had found made a huge difference. Playing under floodlights made the pace of the game so much faster with less time to control and then pass the ball. Maybe that didn't apply to bowling but it was still a different game under artificial lighting.

Members went on to recall the first local bowling clubs to introduce floodlights and it was always down to money. Only the rich clubs could afford such luxuries with ICI and Waterloo among local clubs that were the frontrunners in introducing this novelty. Crosland Moor Liberal also featured as an early adopter of floodlights being the top local club for many years attracting the best bowlers. One of our group, Ken Brook, was a member of that club at that time and a member of a team that won the Yorkshire Cup which was the ultimate test of team capabilities.

I had spoken with Ken about all such matters separately one meeting evening when we were the last two to depart the club. I asked him if he missed bowling as his physical capability now meant that he could no longer play, He had played for over 60 years and enjoyed great team success so I was surprised to learn that he answered that he didn't miss bowling at all, although he was quite happy to recall memories of such times.

He went on to say that he never really enjoyed bowling. The obvious question was why did you do it then? The answer was not what I was expecting. He said that it was just expected by his father and uncles that upon reaching a certain age that he would bowl. He told me that he regarded bowling 'just like having a job'. He was expected by his elders to bowl and so he bowled. Maybe there wasn't the range of alternative interests to attract men at that time but it still seemed a surprise answer and told me a lot about bowling and people in those days.