Bristol Catholic Ladies Skittles League
Many, many years ago way back in the early fifties, possibly earlier (I
would have been too young to remember!); a group of men from various
parishes throughout the Bristol area formed a ‘MEN ONLY’ skittles
league. As time went by Skittles became very popular and most parishes
throughout Bristol had a team.
Churches throughout the area at that time already had a function room or church hall for social gatherings, Union of Catholic Mothers, Catholic Women’s League meetings, children’s clubs, and the like. Their use proved very popular with families who went to Mass on Saturday and Sunday evenings then took their families into the church hall for tea and soft drink!
During this time, where possible, skittle alleys were installed in parish halls with bars for drinks and snacks! This would certainly bring in revenue for the parishes.
Skittles became a very popular source of recreation. In fact it became so popular that it was thought, why not have friendly competition between parishes within the diocese, hence the Mens Catholic Skittles League was formed. At that time, many Parish Priests also joined their local team.
As the years went by, it was felt by the wives, sisters and daughters that perhaps a ladies league could be formed, this was very bold thinking as this wasn’t really the right thing for ‘refined’ ladies to do! However, this was now the 1960s, when life styles and outlooks were rapidly changing and at that time a group of young married mothers whose husbands always seemed to be out ‘playing skittles’ decided they would also use their parish club facilities and the Catholic Ladies Skittles League was formed.
Some of the founder members are still playing skittles – although we do now have to help some of them onto the alley and hand them the balls! I believe there could possibly be at least one nurse in each team!
Our teams are made up of grannies, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, aunties and friends. It’s a good night out, and we are always there for each other in cases of hardship, grief and the other more difficult times of life.
Each year during November we hold a League Mass for deceased members and this year it was held at St Teresa’s in Filton. The occasion was well attended by the teams. The Mass was excellent, followed by light refreshments in the parish hall.
I play for St Augustine’s of Canterbury in Downend, Bristol. We have a wonderful team, friendly and helpful to each other, also made up of grannies, mothers, daughters and friends. Most of our members also belong to other Church organisations, such as flower arrangers, welcomers, altar sacristans, choir and church cleaners (me!) as well as nurses who rush out from their night shifts to play.
At the end of each Season, which runs from September to April we have a men and ladies trophy presentation evening. Over the last few years this has been held at St Bonaventure’s Social Club in Bishopston where we have a general get together.
In recent years we have experienced problems in getting a ‘celebrity’ to do the presentations. Retired Bishop Mervyn Alexander, used to play for the Cathedral team and do the presentations, but when he moved to Weston-super-Mare he also retired from such an important duty! Nowadays we either ask a local Parish Priest to hand out the various trophies, or the Ladies League Officers.
The 2004 to 2005 season has now ended and as always we had our presentation evening. This was held at St Bonaventure’s Social Club and as in previous years representatives from all teams attended.
The presentations to the winning teams were given by our dear Father Frank Bermingham from Holy Cross in Bedminster who did a great job.
Team winners for the ‘All In’ and ‘Front First’ games were St Vincent Ladies of St Vincent de Paul, Southmead – a superb team, excellent players and good friends to all the ladies teams.
The runners up were the ladies of Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood who took the shield for the ‘Front Pin’ competition and St Augustine’s Ladies who took the ‘All In’ runners up shield.
It was a good social occasion, we had a ‘grand draw’ and there were a great variety of prizes.
I have been Chair of the Ladies Skittles League for over 10 years. I thought now is the time to hand this role over to another lady to do the honours. Jenny Fitzgerald, Captain of Our Lady of Lourdes team was unanimously elected by all who attended our recent League AGM. I know she will do a good job keeping the ladies skittles league going.
I thanked the ladies for my beautiful basket flower arrangement and Marks and Spencer voucher.
I wish all the ladies a great summer break and look forward to meeting them all again next season on the alley!
I’m not sure how long the ladies skittles will survive, its probably not the ‘in thing’ to do in your spare time these days, but you meet new friends, raise money for many charities, keep in touch with friends from other parishes and most of all have an enjoyable evening.
Ladies, if you are looking for somewhere to go
On a dark and miserable night
join your local parish ladies skittles team
the friendship and company will put you right!
Joan Mansfield, Former Chairman of the Clifton Diocese Catholic Ladies Skittles
Churches throughout the area at that time already had a function room or church hall for social gatherings, Union of Catholic Mothers, Catholic Women’s League meetings, children’s clubs, and the like. Their use proved very popular with families who went to Mass on Saturday and Sunday evenings then took their families into the church hall for tea and soft drink!
During this time, where possible, skittle alleys were installed in parish halls with bars for drinks and snacks! This would certainly bring in revenue for the parishes.
Skittles became a very popular source of recreation. In fact it became so popular that it was thought, why not have friendly competition between parishes within the diocese, hence the Mens Catholic Skittles League was formed. At that time, many Parish Priests also joined their local team.
As the years went by, it was felt by the wives, sisters and daughters that perhaps a ladies league could be formed, this was very bold thinking as this wasn’t really the right thing for ‘refined’ ladies to do! However, this was now the 1960s, when life styles and outlooks were rapidly changing and at that time a group of young married mothers whose husbands always seemed to be out ‘playing skittles’ decided they would also use their parish club facilities and the Catholic Ladies Skittles League was formed.
Some of the founder members are still playing skittles – although we do now have to help some of them onto the alley and hand them the balls! I believe there could possibly be at least one nurse in each team!
Our teams are made up of grannies, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, aunties and friends. It’s a good night out, and we are always there for each other in cases of hardship, grief and the other more difficult times of life.
Each year during November we hold a League Mass for deceased members and this year it was held at St Teresa’s in Filton. The occasion was well attended by the teams. The Mass was excellent, followed by light refreshments in the parish hall.
I play for St Augustine’s of Canterbury in Downend, Bristol. We have a wonderful team, friendly and helpful to each other, also made up of grannies, mothers, daughters and friends. Most of our members also belong to other Church organisations, such as flower arrangers, welcomers, altar sacristans, choir and church cleaners (me!) as well as nurses who rush out from their night shifts to play.
At the end of each Season, which runs from September to April we have a men and ladies trophy presentation evening. Over the last few years this has been held at St Bonaventure’s Social Club in Bishopston where we have a general get together.
In recent years we have experienced problems in getting a ‘celebrity’ to do the presentations. Retired Bishop Mervyn Alexander, used to play for the Cathedral team and do the presentations, but when he moved to Weston-super-Mare he also retired from such an important duty! Nowadays we either ask a local Parish Priest to hand out the various trophies, or the Ladies League Officers.
The 2004 to 2005 season has now ended and as always we had our presentation evening. This was held at St Bonaventure’s Social Club and as in previous years representatives from all teams attended.
The presentations to the winning teams were given by our dear Father Frank Bermingham from Holy Cross in Bedminster who did a great job.
Team winners for the ‘All In’ and ‘Front First’ games were St Vincent Ladies of St Vincent de Paul, Southmead – a superb team, excellent players and good friends to all the ladies teams.
The runners up were the ladies of Our Lady of Lourdes, Kingswood who took the shield for the ‘Front Pin’ competition and St Augustine’s Ladies who took the ‘All In’ runners up shield.
It was a good social occasion, we had a ‘grand draw’ and there were a great variety of prizes.
I have been Chair of the Ladies Skittles League for over 10 years. I thought now is the time to hand this role over to another lady to do the honours. Jenny Fitzgerald, Captain of Our Lady of Lourdes team was unanimously elected by all who attended our recent League AGM. I know she will do a good job keeping the ladies skittles league going.
I thanked the ladies for my beautiful basket flower arrangement and Marks and Spencer voucher.
I wish all the ladies a great summer break and look forward to meeting them all again next season on the alley!
I’m not sure how long the ladies skittles will survive, its probably not the ‘in thing’ to do in your spare time these days, but you meet new friends, raise money for many charities, keep in touch with friends from other parishes and most of all have an enjoyable evening.
Ladies, if you are looking for somewhere to go
On a dark and miserable night
join your local parish ladies skittles team
the friendship and company will put you right!
Joan Mansfield, Former Chairman of the Clifton Diocese Catholic Ladies Skittles
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