Members Muses

THURSDAY MORNINGS AT THE GREEN – By John Tew

Every Thursday morning

Around about 9am

Just when the gates have opened

You’ll see a band of men.

It’s just a gang of workers

So eager and so keen

To carry out work with passion

Both on and around the green

There’s Norman giving orders

With jobs chalked on the board

He says please don’t get Crookie

He’s more than we can afford

We have a human dynamo

All jobs they come alike

You know there’ll be some action

As Geoff turns up on his bike

He sets to work with gusto

He does the work of four

The petrol that he uses

Would fill a juggernaut and more

We’ve tried our Mr Andrews

In many different ways

He’s now been put on weeding

Either that or mekkin taes

There’s Martin doing handstands

Says be careful with my mower

You’ll shave it, You’ll ruin it

I don’t want it any lower

There’s Charlie in the garden

Tending to the flowers

He’s dreaming of the Hawthorns

They’re just a bunch of showers

We have a lovely covered way

Protects us from the weather

Only took twelve months to do

By Mike, John Hobbs and Trevor

There’s more who I could mention

But I’m sure that will suffice

Maybe I’ll have a rethink

Cause your all so very nice

John Tew - 2012

ODE TO THE TRINITY BOWLERS

PAUSE AWHILE, PICTURE THE SCENE

AN OLD CLUB HOUSE AND A BOWLING GREEN

A GREEN AS SMOOTH AS A PANE OF GLASS

IT’S MARTIN HE’S THE GROUNDSMAN

MAKES SURE IT LOOKS FIRST CLASS

AROUND THE GREEN, BOWLS IN THEIR HANDS

THE WILLENHALL TRINITY BOWLERS STAND

WONDERING HOW THE GREEN WILL RUN

DO I USE FINGER? DO I USE THUMB?

THE GARDENER IS JACK CHARLTON

HE KEEPS THE BORDERS LOOKING BRIGHT

AND NORMAN HE IS SECRETARY

‘COS HE CAN READ AND WRITE

HEAD SWEEPER IS JOHN ANDREWS

ALL AGREE HE DOES HIS BEST

BUT SWEEPING IS QUITE DIFFICULT

WITH ARMS FOLDED ACROSS HIS CHEST

WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT OUR STAN

ONE WORD AND THAT IS RAFFLE

BUT BEWARE WHEN HE’S ABOUT

OR YOUR SHOPPING HE WILL SNAFFLE

DAVE MILLS AND JOHN ARE HANDYMEN

WHO LIKE TO USE THEIR TOOLS

AND PETER HE’S AN EX SCHOOL HEAD

SO HE’S A STICKLER FOR THE RULES

MALCOLM HE MAKES SUPER JAM

FROM FRUIT THAT’S TRINITY GROWN

AND WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CAKES

WELL, BET’S IN A CLASS OF HER OWN

THE LADIES TOO, THEY DO THEIR BIT

BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS

SUPPORT THEY GIVE BY MAKING TEA

AND EVEN MARKING CARDS

YOUR DEDICATION TO YOUR SPORT

TO ALL IS VERY PLAIN

SO HERE’S TO YOU, YOUR JACKS & BALLS

TRINITY LADS & LASSES LONG MAY YOU REIGN

A LIGHTHEARTED LOOK AT A COSMOPOLITAN CREW

(PEN PICTURES OF THE THURSDAY MORNING WORKING PARTY)

Compiled by John Tew

NORMAN KEMPSON - General Foreman - Supremo - Overseer - Controls a keen, enthusiastic, youthful labour force. Has the foresight to keep the blackboard full of jobs - Likely to retain position.

STAN FISHER - No 1 painter, early bird, keen to work. A class act. Has been given time off during the summer to re-charge batteries.

JOHN TEW - Deputy - Acting - unpaid - assistant to No 1 painter. Chief tea maker. Recently relinquishedjob as Winter green cutter owing to failing fitness test. Listens to suggestions on spectator area - then has it done his way.

JOHN ANDREWS - Assistant to all trades - Local Historian - No 2 Tea maker - Yet to find most suitable position. Talks for Trinity, Wolves & England. Shows no sign of stopping. Good entertainment value

TREVOR PITTAWAY - Head of Carpentry - Anxious to please, tries to emulate John Andrews in the chatterbox department - No chance - Good allrounder.

MARTIN BIDDULPH - Trevor's sidekick - Latecomer - Must improve timekeeping if seeking promotion, but worthy of a place in the team.

DOUG CLARK - Has taken over as one of our grasscutters - Puts in a good stint but is an early finisher, Solid performer.

JOHN CHARLTON (Jackie) - Head of Horticulture - Likes to be in charge whenSupremo not around. Works hard on surrounds with a certain amount of finesse. Blooming good with flowers, favourite colours Blue & white. Has an interest in working on banks.

KEITH CHARLTON (Our Kid) - Usually turns up just as the kettle is boiling, but after refreshment is a good generalassistant. Has shown steady progress with the paint brush. One to watch, travels well.

MIKE BILL - Whipper In - You can close the gate after he arrives. Subjected to hard labour recently, very willing, tries hard. Could improve with age. Settling in nicely.

St Giles v. Prims • Monday July 6th 1931

An account of a bowls game between St Giles v Prims on Monday July 6th 1931

Written by Ernest Downing

Twas on a July evening in nineteen thirty one,

A night as still and cloudless as those we read -- long gone.

Beneath the shade of church tower. Of ancient old St Giles

A sward as green as any round for furlongs or for miles.

The river murmured gently by, elder and ash were seen,

The old sweet strains from church choir were heard upon the green.

St Giles - a famous team were of bowlers tried and true,

And doughty warriors they had proved, as all opponents knew.

Full off on many occasions the county cup they'd won,

Renown they'd gained and praises, deserved every one.

And so to any other team to win upon their green,

Would need men, superhuman, or nearly so would seem.

But on this July evening, the sixth to be- exact,

There assayed: forth another team, the hard task to enact,

Of Russell Street the Prims were, comparatively young -

In years they were - as teams go - but confident and strong.

The story of this hazard too long twould take to tell,

'Tis like Jack slew the Giant, in fable all know well

At seven the game was started and then two ends were on,

Bill Spate and young Jim Davis, Grocutt and Farrington.

Now Jim was playing Grocutt, the game was quite even,

Until Jim got a move-on and won - fifteen eleven.

O, Farrington and Billy Spate fought on with might and main,

But try as hard as Bill might, he could not a win gain.

Next to come was Deeming and he came to the fray,

Wearing his worsted jacket in which he chose to play.

And his antagonist was, Fred Sanders junior,

Grim and hard set they struggled, each for each other’s gore.

Nine - fifteen was the end called - the game was won by Joe,

Right worthily he played too, against his younger foe.

Now Dainty came on tripping, with Johnson to engage,

Both of them were left handed, and both 'were free from rage.

Stern and tense this went on, each trying to do best,

Until at last, the game was called, ten-fifteen to Ernest.

Sam Bangham was the next one; he played 'gainst Arthur Hicks,

So well he strove, that when done, he'd got them in a fix,

Then on came Arthur Jenkins a sturdy Champion, he,

Experienced and resourceful as everyone could, see.

Frank Evans was the one he play'd, nor had he long to wait,

To find himself defeated, his score was only eight.

The last four winners had been Prims but now there came a stop,

For Arthur Farrington came on and quickly stopped the rot,

For he against tall Fred Preece did well and truly strive,

Until fifteen was duly called, and Fred had only five.

And then came on Charles Ragdale, who, seeing there was a chance,

Did bowl 'gainst old Jim Amos and led him such a dance.

The end was called and Charlie felt as if he was in heaven,

For he had got just fifteen and he had got eleven,

Tom Parker and E. Downing were. then called on to fight,

A battle grim was this one, to see it was a sight.

Downing was leading all the way, and at the last did win,

'Twas well, for if he hadn't, it would have been a sin.

Geo. Wood was called out after; Tom Haddon was his foe,

Each fighter had it in his heart to cause the other woe.

Now Haddon proved the winner as oft in days gone by,

He'd played upon the winning side and never ceased to try,

The next to try was Reg Wood; he met Millington's Phil,

And at the end of this game, Reg took a bitter pill.

For with long length he tried Phil. but sorry was his fate,

For while Phil got his fifteen, Reg only scored his eight.

Ern Edge. and Thomas Pardoe were gladiators next,

But here again St. Giles won, and Pardoe came off vexed.

H. Downing was the next called on, H. Tonkinson to play,

Both known by forename - Harry, like king of former day.

A really fine game here was seen; they bowled across the green,

And Downing rarely missed the jack, his bowling was so keen.

And while he made his fifteen the other scored but four,

This gave. the Prims a good lift, while St, Giles felt quite sore.

Joe Glover and Jack Wakelam were then and there called out,

Joe bowled, quite well, but quickly fell, and lost this well-fought bout.

This made the game exciting, for though the Prims did lead,

The game was anybody's as everyone agreed.

There now remains not much to tell of how the fight was won,

The last two Prims were. Freddie Johns and E.G.D avis’s son.

Ernest his name, and nature too, for he was quite a. "brick",

He played Fred Sanders senior, and nearly did the trick.

Thirteen-fifteen was all he lost, although called on so late,

Right well he bowled, and nearly won, tis pleasing to relate.

John Glotham was Fred Johns‘s foe, as everyone could see,

A skillful bowler all men know, and right good sport is he.

He bowled with his accustomed skill, but Fred caused many a roar,

For when the game was ended, fifteen -thirteen the score.

This epic match may be recalled, and memories oft revive,

How Prims from Russell St. did win the contest by odd five-

Ernest Downing.