Whist results

Thursday, January 8: top score - Muriel Griffiths (177); 1st lady - Jean Salisbury (175); 2nd lady - Mair Marquiss (165); 1st gent - Jill Groom (175); 2nd gent - Bill Whitaker (172); first half winner - Margaret Harries (88); second half - Bert Barnikel (85); longest sitter - Mabel Whitaker (seven times); lowest score - Joyce Waters; raffles - Bill Whitaker and Mary Renowden.  

Saturday, January 10: top score - Ginnie Beeken (177); 1st lady - Mary Renowden (176); 2nd lady - Jean Salisbury (173); 1st gent - Elsie Breadnam (173); 2nd gent - Mary Draper (171); first half winner - Muriel Griffiths (91); second half - Mabel Whitaker (80); longest sitter - Phyllis Jones; lowest score - Olive Frost; raffles - Jill Groom and Bill Whitaker. 

Bowling club whist is played twice weekly, Thursday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm. New members and visitors are always welcome.

Mrs. Violet. Roberts (nee Rafferty)

Recently widowed, Vi and her husband Cyril joined the Tenby Bowling Club in 1990 (writes B.B.). 

'Wee Vi', as she is affectionately known by her close friends and family, was born on December 6, 1925, being the second of eight children. Her father was a qualified shoemaker. 

Raised in Carluke, near Glasgow, Vi was educated in Motherwell and proved to be a bright pupil. Vi wanted to teach so she attended the Technical Training College at Coatbridge and passed out with flying colours.

From there, Vi went to The Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College for teacher training. 1947 saw her looking for more adventure, landing a job with HMV Recording Co.,  based in Hayes, Middlesex.

In 1948,  Vi  joined British European Airways with a much increased income, as secretary in the personnel department at Northolt Airport.

Vi's main hobby was road cycle racing, emulating her father. They do not call Vi 'Wee' for nothing, but she has never found being small a handicap. She was a very experienced rider, already holding the 12-hour continuous riding qualification and decided to join her local cycling club at Greenford, London.  

Fate certainly works in a very mysterious way. That same day she joined with several other new members, she noticed a handsome young man, a Cyril Roberts, who was also joining, having just retired from the Royal Navy.

You have guessed it. It was love at first sight. It was the start of a long and happy relationship which was to last nearly 60 years. Vi maintains that being friends and lovers is the secret of success in a fruitful marriage.

Cyril and Vi married in October 1948. They were blessed with three beautiful girls, Maureen, Lynn and Susan. 

Vi was kept busy bringing up her brood until 1957. When Susan her youngest daughter started school, Vi found temporary secretarial work. In 1964, she decided to take up teaching to have more time with her girls during the school holidays. Vi took a refresher course at Chiswick Polytechnic in the afternoons, but within a month she landed a job with the Pitman Secretarial College, Ealing, finishing her refresher course in the evenings. She taught until the Ealing College closed in 1969. She was a 'temp' for a short while, but this all changed when she went as temporary medical secretary to a consultant physician at the Central Middlesex Hospital -within days Vi was asked to take on the job permanently.    

Her organisational skills were soon put to good use as she sorted out the ever-growing pile of case files which littered her office which took hours to find anything. By the time she had finished, everything was logically filed with security in mind, gaining congratulations all round. Vi proved to be a central kingpin with several consultants well into the late 1980s.

In 1988, with retirement in mind and Cyril's health causing concern, they decided to relocate to the west coast, a popular holiday area with the family in the early days. 

After many attempts, looking at Cardigan and Pembrokeshire, Penally reminded Vi of Scotland, so the decision was made -Strawberry Gardens, Penally. 

When I asked Vi which was the happiest period of her life, without hesitation she chose the last 21 years.

The family had flown and settled, no more work and lots of leisure time. Cyril's health still gave cause for concern, but that did not spoil this happiest time.

They both joined Tenby Bowling Club in 1990 and soon became embroiled in the club's affairs. One of the main attractions was that their daughter, Lynn Delabertouche, was already a member. Lynn inherited that rare organisational gene from Vi, which is currently being put to good use as Lynn runs our Open Tournaments - not everyone can do that.

Vi also branched out into the delicate art of icing decoration of cakes. 

Several of Vi's siblings are still active in various parts of the UK meeting up at special times.

Vi latterly moved back to Tenby from the Pembroke area after the demise of Cyril, saddened because they just missed what would have been their diamond anniversary. 

Vi finds the Pembrokeshire people very friendly. Her reception in the bowling clubs in the area, especially Tenby and Pembroke Dock, has been warm to say the least. 

Mind you, as they say in Wales, Vi is so very easy to make friends with. By the wa,y she is a demon bowler. Vi played lead in the very successful Tenby Ladies Two Rink League team, which won the Pembroke County Trophy in 2008, under the captaincy of her daughter Lynn, giving Vi much pleasure.

All this in her mid-80s - amazing! 

Her advice to the new generations: 'Keep your mind and body busy, and the rest will look after itself.' 

'John Tumble'

Sad to report the demise of one of the bubbly characters who graced our Open Week for many years. There were so many John Evans's, they were all given an identification name, which helped. So, John Evans from Ammanford became 'John Tumble' after the Tumble Bowling Club. A lovely bowler.

Bonus Ball winners

Wednesday, January 7 - Brian Spencer; Saturday, January 10 - Tracy Coates.

Coffee morning

A fund-raising coffee morning is being held in our bar/lounge, Saturday, January 24, 10 am - 12 noon. Please make every effort to attend. It is the ideal outlet for any unwanted Christmas presents you may have. It is also the ideal time to pay this year's membership fees, bowling and social.

At last 

With signwriters being very thin on the ground of late, it is pleasing to see Mike Gouldingay getting to grips with the rather laggard updating of our winners boards. Artistic Doug Handicott has been in action for quite a while, catching-up with the past.