Freddie gets ready for first ever bowls session

The Scarborough Bowls Centre is one of my personal favourite places. I hope this tale brings you a few little smiles.

Freddie was going to the Scarborough Bowls Centre for his first session of indoor bowling. “I’m good at football, tennis and cricket, so I’ll be good at this.”

“Let’s see what happens,” said Grandpa, a little smile on his face.

Scarborough Bowls Centre is a fabulous place providing fun for all the family, including juniors and seniors, with full access for disabled people. On the carpet there are eight indoor rinks of world-class standard. Go there and you’ll see beginners and world class bowlers side by side.

But the site hasn’t always been a bowling centre.

Grandpa explained: “This used to be the Floral Hall Theatre and Alexandra Gardens. Famous artists of their day came to perform: The Krankies, Lonnie Donegan, Adam Faith, Roy Orbison, Les Dawson, Ken Dodd, Bob Monkhouse and so many more.

“In those days, a seaside season was a regular bill, not like nowadays as in the open air theatre with big one off concerts. An earlier use of the theatre was for the Pierrot.”

“Pierrot!” “You mean Poirot?” “No, Pierrot!”

“Is that a detective?” “Are you winding me up? I’m confused.”

“Pierrot is part of Scarborough’s history.”

“OK, tell me about Pierrot please.” “Later! Here we are!” “These are funny balls!” “They are not balls, they are bowls!”

“OK. Let’s get going! Remember, there’s a bias, so the bowl does not travel in a straight line.”

Shoes were changed. A small white ball, the jack, was there at the other end to be aimed at.

“Keep the bowls in our rink, or you’ll interfere with others’ games”. Freddie tried his first ever bowl, a special size for children. “Look at that!”

“Only half way Freddie. Push harder.” Freddie’s next bowl rumbled at speed. Oh no! It slammed into the ditch. Blam!

Freddie’s next bowl went perfectly straight to start with, then, oh no! It began to curve, stumbling into the other side rink’s bowls. Clopplul! Clopplul! “Sorry! Beginner!”

Actually, as the game continued, Freddie improved, even gaining applause from the rinks at either side. “I quite liked that, when I got used to it.”

They sat with a drink and

Grandpa talked. “Pierrot first appeared in Italy in the 1800s. They were clowns of pantomime: mime and comedy and music, white costumes and sad faces.

"In Scarborough, Will Catlin set up a Pierrot group known as the Fol-de-rols here at the Floral Hall. They were very popular. However, everything came to a stop when the First World War began.

"Afterwards seaside holidays changed. Shows became very popular. Many of the stars had been on television: Opportunity Knocks, New Faces, Search for a Star, Crackerjack and many more. In time, the Floral Hall closed. Now we have the bowls centre.”

“And what a great place it is! Can we come again?”

“Of course!”