Committee

We are a small team of enthusiastic bowlers and would love to hear from anyone who is interested in giving lawn bowls a try or would like to join our friendly club

Mike Smith

President

Mike has been a valued member of Hawley for more than 20 years and thoroughly deserves being elected our President this year. He served as Men’s Captain for a number of years and is an important member of our Greenkeeping team. Without the team our green would not be in the good condition we enjoy.

Mike enjoys golf and tries to play at least twice a week. He has a respectable handicap of 20. He is also an avid Liverpool FC fan, having visited Anfield on numerous occasions.

Contact me: 01276 50310/07923 975327

Alan Bryant

Chairman

Alan grew up in Bognor Regis Sussex. At the age of 15 he joined the army as a ‘boy soldier and then served in the Royal Signals and Army Management Services throughout Europe and the Far East for 23 years. On leaving the Army he worked in Traffic Management and Parking with the City of London Police and the London Borough of Camden before retiring in 2008.

He has always played and enjoyed sport, namely hockey, rugby, cricket, golf and walking football.

He part owned and restored an ‘Enterprise’ Dingy and sailed with the Civil Service Sailing Club. As a member of the Army Sailing Club successfully sailed from Bermuda to America through the Bermudan Triangle. For some years he owned a 31ft cruiser and as a club member cruised the River Thames.

He started green bowling some 4 years ago; firstly at Fleet United and then moving 2 years ago to Hawley Bowling Club.

With his partner Eileen they have two daughters and three grandchildren and live in Fleet.

Email me : alanbryant6@gmail.com

Janet Guess

Secretary

Janet had no interest in participating in sport whilst at school but took up league table tennis at age 18. She played in the Guildford and Aldershot Leagues for a number of years, representing Aldershot in the Inter-town league. She also represented the South East in the National Post Office competitions.

The qualification age for veterans is much younger in table tennis than bowls and Janet played in the Worlds Vetts Championship in Manchester. Her highlight though was winning a gold medal in the Vetts Mixed Doubles when playing for the British Post Office in the European Telecommunications and Post Office Championships in Poland.

Janet took up bowls three years ago and really enjoys being a member of Hawley. She has always enjoyed administration and didn’t take much persuading to take on the role of Secretary. She also takes the minutes at meetings at the Indoor Camberley Club.

Janet also enjoys trying to paint and to play bridge.

Email me: janetguess53@yahoo.co.uk

Wendy O’Brien

Treasurer

Wendy enjoyed all manner of watery activities whilst at school namely synchronised swimming, life saving and personal survival and swam competitively for the school. She is a trained swimming teacher and time keeper.

She worked at Frimley Park hospital for 15 years and then discovered lawn bowls which she finds very addictive. She loves travelling and has visited 6 continents and tries to visit at least one new country each year – apart from 2020!

Email me: wob58@hotmail.com

Phil O’Brien

Head Groundsman

Phil only joined the club in 2020 encouraged to join by wife Wendy and because his travel plans were restricted by covid, but now he is also addicted and thoroughly enjoying working on improving the green.

In his youth Phil did a lot of cycling, mainly touring but some time trialling. He rode all the main passes in the Pyrenees and also did LE to JOG. He did a lot of Mountain biking in Wales before the modern bikes were invented.

Now Phil’s second main activity is long distance walking and he has nearly completed all the National trails. He is also a keen football fan following Aldershot Town and Manchester United and currently has visited 91 of the 92 English league grounds. In any remaining spare time he does a lot of traveling around the world.

Email me: philobrn53@hotmail.co.uk

Robin Pretty

Fixtures Secretary

Robin’s main sport from a young age was athletics – sprints and long jump – and he was lucky enough to have been selected to run for Surrey as a 16-year-old. At this time Robin also started playing table tennis at youth club. He progressed through the league divisions until making the premier in Guildford. At the grand age of 40 he was picked to play for the Surrey Vetts Team. Being of that age, he found it opened up chances to play in bigger events and he took part in two European and one World Championship .

Nowadays he enjoys working on his two old motorcycles , one of which he says is as old as he is and they leak so much oil , he could do with some in his joints!

Now he feels he has found his ideal social sport in bowls – good company and friendly banter.

Email me: robin.pretty@outlook.com

Mike Guess

Competition Secretary

Mike has always been interested in most sports, either playing or watching. At school he played cricket and also represented the school and district at football. After leaving, he continued to play Sunday league football, as well as table tennis in the Guildford, Aldershot and Civil Service leagues for a few years. in the early 80s he took up running – becoming a member at both the Finchampstead and Sandhurst Joggers run clubs and has continued to run ever since – with a marathon best of 2 hrs 53 mins.

He took up bowling and joined Hawley BC about three years ago and has been surprised not only by how much he enjoys the actual game, but also helping on the organisational side. He says It’s not an exaggeration to say that during lockdown the club has been a godsend to him.

email me: mikeguess53@yahoo.co.uk

Jan Vlok

Men’s Captain

Jan was born in Zambia but has lived in this country for a number of years. He hasn’t lost his accent though. He also hates our cold winters and tries to spend several months in South Africa during our winters.

Jan used to play competitive squash with Stephen and five years ago be talked him into taking up bowls. His only regret is that he should have taken up bowls earlier in life.

Jan has become and indispensable member of Hawley, being responsible for our lovely display of baskets and pots. He is also our BBQ King.

Email me: jan@janV.net

Monica Cowan

Ladies’ Captain

Monica has returned to the post of Ladies’ Captain.

Email me: mons,c@hotmail.com

Tel : 01252 872806 / 07392 381935

Terri Priestley

Ladies’ Secretary

Terri joined Hawley three years ago and has enjoyed the convivial atmosphere of the Club. She has risen through the coaching the Club offers to play bowls in friendly ad soe league games and she loves it.

As a retired teacher, in her spare time she tutors children and is an active member of Camberley U3A, writing comedy scripts and learning Spanish.