On Friday, 12th July 2024, a charity event called ‘The One Thousand’ took place at Trentham Bowling Club in aid of the Club’s chosen charity, Sue Ryder: The Duchess of Kent Hospice. The aim of the event was to play a bowling marathon for a continuous 1,000 minutes from 5 o’clock in the morning until 9:40 in the evening with the ambition of raising £1,000 for the charity.

At the stroke of 5am, five Club bowlers, Kevin Taylor, Andy Chapman, John Evans, Ray Stevens and Trevor Marshall, set off the 16 hour 40 minute countdown, all with the aim of completing the full 1,000 minutes ably assisted by other members of the Club throughout the day. Thanks go to Barry Hall, Vic Hills, Ray Sewart, Janet Robinson, Linden Rose, Jules Chapman, Heather Bull, Janet Turner, Lauren White, Cliff Hayden, Jackie Fisher, Barrie Davies, Lacey Evans and Jim Bampton all of whom made guest appearances at various times of the day to keep the marathon bowlers on their toes!!

The players were split into two teams to play possibly the longest triples match ever seen, so that a friendly element of competition was maintained, with the scores and the number of ends played being recorded. Fortunately, the weather was on the bowlers’ side, keeping dry all day. Although it was chilly at 5am, it became warm during the late morning and into the afternoon which made for pleasant bowling conditions.

Wendy Ribbons came very early in the morning to make teas and coffees and Jules Chapman kindly provided mid-morning bacon rolls. Karen Taylor supplied a wonderful picnic lunch for all the bowlers, which sustained them throughout the more challenging hours. Whilst the bowling was taking place, there was much else going on around the Club. There was a 9-hole mini crazy golf course on green 7 and a target bowls competition on green 8. Thanks go to Eric Newman (who helped in so many ways) and to Ted Rumble. Inside the Clubhouse, many members donated cakes with afternoon teas being served in aid of the charity. There was a raffle with many prizes being donated by so many Club members, and there was a ‘Guess the weight of the cake’ and ‘Guess the number of sweets in the jar’ stall. Thanks go to Heather Bull, Maureen Gilmartin, Jan Heath and Carol Cooke who served the teas, Suze Stevens-Wood who ran the raffle, ably assisted by Janet and Robert Turner, and the young Piper Evans who stole the show, running the cake and sweets stall and helping out with the raffle.

In the evening Paul Cowley laid on jacket potatoes with multiple fillings and salads. Thanks must go to Paul for his fantastic culinary efforts.

As the evening drew in, the end of the bowling marathon appeared on the horizon with many Club members supporting the bowlers. The floodlights came on to see out the closing minutes and as 9:40 approached,the bowlers were given a rousing 10-second countdown to the finale, with all five bowlers

sending their final woods at the same time. When the bowling ended, 142 ends had been played, a combined total of 260 shots scored and 2,556 bowls (including 426 by each of the five marathon bowlers) having been played in total over the 1,000 minutes.

The atmosphere around the Club was amazing with a lot of fun having been had by so many members.

There were a few tired and sore limbs out on the greens but ‘The One Thousand’ challenge had been completed and the day had been a great success.

Only one question remained. Was the £1,000 charity target reached? There are pledges still to be received with others expected to be added over the coming days. Final figures have yet to be calculated but the resounding answer is YES………….and then some!!!

With the donations pledged through the Just Giving website and the Gift Aid added to those pledges, the sponsorship received in cash and the monies raised on the day of the event, it is safe to say that as a very minimum, £1,500 has been raised for charity. The exact figure will become clear very soon

and will be published accordingly.

Thanks go to so many people, not only those mentioned previously, but also those of you who will have assisted throughout the afternoon and evening. The bar team, those that helped with the catering and clearing up at the end of the event. Trentham Bowling Club has so many kind and generous members.

A good day appears to have been had by all and most importantly a difference will have been made to the lives of those people who, for whatever reason, need the support of The Duchess of Kent Hospice. The challenge of bowling for 1,000 minutes (a continuous 16 hours and 40 minutes) is not insignificant and should never be considered to be anything otherwise, but by giving up a little time and enduring a few temporary aches and pains, it is possible to support those who are not so fortunate as ourselves.

Bowling for a continuous 1,000 minutes may cause some physical and mental fatigue but the effects are temporary and within a day or two the struggle is forgotten. But for people living with a lifelimiting illness or grief, their struggle is not so easy. The Duchess of Kent Hospice provides great support and care to those people, which makes our efforts and compassion for others so worthwhile.

Well done everyone who has been part of ‘The One Thousand’, in whatever way that may be. What has been achieved is amazing.