"Bert Hodge?

Always a chap to help you enjoy a laugh" so say his many friends.

Seen on the right is Mr Bert Hodge, who was responsible for this quartet dressing up in top hats and frock coats at Torrington Bowling Green.

"In the old days bowlers used to dress up like that and I thought it would cause some amusement if our rink did the same. Before the game in the county rinks championship at Torrington we marched around the green and then played a couple of ends," explained Mr Hodge. These four - left to right, Messrs F Vodden, R Walsh, W Plucknett and B Hodge - won the county rinks championship two years ago and have now won the North Devon section for three consecutive years.

Incidentally, the veteran standing in the background is Mr Jimmy Huxtable, of Bideford Bowling Club.

Gazette article 19 July 1957