Probus Club annual skittle evening

FROME & District Probus Club held their annual skittles evening this year at the Royal Oak at Corsley Heath.

John Hedges, vice-president of Probus said, “Frome & District Probus Club is a local social group for retired professional and business men that was founded in 1984. The club does much more than club meetings and lunches. An annual favourite is a skittle evening and this year it took place at the Royal Oak pub at Corsley Heath.

“The skittle alley is a feature of the pub. It is full size for 9 pin skittles, with a proper hard wood lane, skittle pins, balls and a sloping gutter at the side and the bars just down the corridor to keep the drinks coming.

“In winter-time there is adequate heating, which was much appreciated by our club. The pub can normally find a willing teenager to re-position fallen skittles and return the balls. This year the club split into two teams with 10 rounds as we again took up the challenge of a game that none of us much practiced at.

“It was a good year with a few all 9-pins-down, a few oh-dear-i’ve-scored-zero, and lots of cries of anguish as yet one more ball didn’t quite go where the bowler had hoped. But it was a thoroughly good evening with one of the club’s friends, Sheila Batten, being the winner.

“It’s worth mentioning that being a skittle handler is hard work and this year’s skittle lad looked quite tired at the end of the evening, although he was rewarded by a good addition to his pocket money by the players.

“Frome Probus meets on the third Tuesday of each month at The Standerwick Centre in Frome Market. The monthly members’ meetings consist of club business, coffee and tea, talks on a wide range of different topics, and a two-course lunch. In addition to the walks, the club offers a number of other activities, to which spouses and friends are welcome.

“These include theatre and cultural visits, days-out, croquet, quiz nights, ladies’ lunch, etc. The club has a culture of care and tries to help members and spouses when it is needed.

“Currently there is room for a few more members and any man who feels it may be of interest and may like to join, should contact Probus using the contact form on the website: www.fromeprobus.co.uk”