Despite severe thunderstorms being forecast, the 2025 Provincial Charity Bowling Tournament got underway at 10am on a Saturday in July as planned at Fox Lane Sports and Social Club in Leyland and all but two of the 35 players who entered took part in the tournament.
The excellent facilities at the club meant that all those present enjoyed various hot cooked breakfasts, lunches and drinks from the bar throughout the day. All entrants initially played in the main Cowper Trophy competition organised by secretary Trevor Barber and those losing their first game proceeded to the McGibbon Trophy competition organised by assistant secretary Keith Carter.
As always, the standard of bowling was excellent and play proceeded without any interruption from the weather apart from the occasional minor drizzle. Play was completed shortly after 4pm and presentations of the prizes followed. Tournament chairman Harry Cox thanked all those attending for competing in an excellent competition and he also thanked all those who had attended to support the bowlers and stayed for the presentation.
Harry thanked all the senior Masons who had attended during the day, namely Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Peter Schofield and Stuart Boyd, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals John Robbie Porter, who also played in the competition, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Duncan Smith, a regular supporter of the event, Blackpool Group Chairman Steve Jelly, who also played in the competition. And Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group Chris Larder, whose group hosted the event. Chairman of the Warrington Group, John Tyrer, had attended earlier in the day.
Chris Larder then presented a giant cheque on behalf of the host group to Harry, the tournament chairman. In response, Harry thanked Chris and the host group for the cheque for £750, which, along with the raffle proceeds of £235, totalled just short of £1,000. Chris went on to say that the total contributions to the tournament will become known in a few weeks’ time and that the recipients of the monies would be agreed at the annual general meeting to be held in November.
For everyone’s information, the previous tournament event in 2024 was also held in Leyland, hosted by the Fylde groups, and from the money raised, donations of £500 were made to the following hospices: Wigan Hospice, St John’s Hospice, St Mary’s Hospice, St Francis Hospice, Queens Court Hospice, with Trinity Hospice receiving £1,000 (the extra £500 being donated from the competition hosts). There was also a donation of £500 to the Macmillan Nurses charity.
Peter Schofield then made the following presentations of trophies and prizes for the main competition: Winner of the Cowper trophy and prize of a watch to John Cooper of the Wigan and Leigh Group, Crewdson trophy and prize of a watch to runner-up Derek English of the Chorley and Leyland Group, third prize of a pewter hip flask to Paul Davies of the Wigan and Leigh Group, fourth prize of a pewter hip flask to Denis Skett of the Wigan and Leigh Group, fifth prize of a Masonic wallet to John Bimpson of the Wigan and Leigh Group, sixth prize of a Masonic wallet to Geoff Brookes of the Warrington Group, seventh prize of Masonic cuff links to Geoff Wright of the Warrington Group and eighth prize of Masonic cuff links Peter Schofield (no relation) of the Chorley and Leyland Group.
Those players eliminated in their first game proceeded to the McGibbon trophy competition. Stuart Boyd presented the trophy and prize of a bottle of Jameson whisky to Paul Curwen of the Furness and South Lakeland Group and runner-up prize of a bottle of whisky to Alf Short of the Wigan and Leigh Group. Paul was playing for the first time, having only recently become a Freemason.
In concluding, Harry went on to thank all those who had helped to make the day a success, especially the tournament president, Mark Humphrey, and vice-president, Mike Silver, both of whom had donated the first and second prizes. Harry went on to add that, as everyone is aware, Mike Silver sadly passed away during the year, and he was sure that everyone’s thoughts and prayers were with Mike’s widow and family.
Harry also thanked David Bradshaw and the team from Fox Lane Sports and Social Club for their assistance and excellent facilities. Going on to thank the Provincial bowling team, comprising vice-chairman Geoffrey Porter, secretary Trevor Barber, treasurer Len Hart, assistant secretary Keith Carter and all the group bowling representatives. In particular on this occasion, Harry thanked Frank Senior, Roger Nevinson, and the Lancaster and District Group for their enthusiasm and generosity in ensuring that the tournament ran so smoothly.
The 2026 competition will be held at Roose Conservative Working Men’s Club, Barrow-in-Furness, on Sunday, 19 July 2026.