THIS year is the 75th of Devon Ladies Bowling Association with one of their highlights being a match against Devon Men at Crediton Bowling Club in Newcombes Meadow.
A cake had been made and decorated by Morchard Bishop and Devon bowler Mrs Gillian Gunn, who was playing that day.
An extra celebration was the announcement that morning of the women's senior and junior International teams. The senior team of 24 included six Devon players, an achievement of which Devon Ladies were proud.
They were Nikki Payne (Crediton, formerly Morchard Bishop), Liz Smerdon (formerly Crediton now playing with Madeira, Exmouth), Sue Harriott (Madeira), Sharon Parnell (Plymouth), Natalie Melmore and Sian Gordon (both Kings, Torquay).
Sian and Natalie are now training to go to India to play in the Commonwealth Games.
The four junior Devon members chosen to play for England were Natalie and Sian plus Amanda Higginbotham (Kings, Torquay) and Hannah Tucker (Totnes). Carol Horgan, formerly a Crediton member, is Devon ladies secretary. She explained that at the end of this year Devon Ladies and Devon Men (who celebrated their centenary last year) would become one Association.
Carol is acting administrator for Bowls Devon and a member of Topsham Bowling Club although she used to live in Crediton, where she was born.
She went to the then High School for Girls, was a member of Crediton Town Council and of Crediton Operatic and Dramatic Society, was CODS' secretary for a long time. For 20 years Carol was personal assistant to the director of Kneels and has recently retired after 25 years as secretary at Exeter Golf and Country Club.
A daughter of Tom and Margery Wright, Carol was a bellringer at Down St Mary for some years.