BOWLS
Guy’s Thatched Hamlet
Putting theory into practice The quirkily named Guy’s Thatched Hamlet (origin unknown) is a canalside haven of thatched roof buildings and sports provision at Bilsborrow, near Preston. Greg Rhodes hears how a former turf sector lecturer, Malcolm Eckton, is bidding to raise a crown green bowling facility to county level
M
alcolm Eckton spent a good slice of his working life lecturing at Myerscough College. Clearly, he couldn’t keep away from the education hub, returning twice after first leaving, before eventually taking redundancy from full-time education four years ago. Qualified as an agricultural engineer, Malcolm spanned the globe on work exchange programmes through the University of Minnesota between his stints at the College. Now 61, he’s in charge of developing the sporting and amenity provision to a new level at one of Lancashire’s hidden gems of leisure, hospitality and hotel provision Guy’s Thatched Hamlet. Nestled between the Lancaster canal and the busy A6, the Hamlet has plenty to catch and keep road or waterway travellers and
76
PC February/March 2022
tourists with its restaurant, pub, lodge, bowling green and cricket field. A local community focus as good as its name, the cluster of thatched buildings presents a unique mix of provision whose owners are ready and eager to move out of the shadow of Covid lockdowns and restrictions that forced a five-month long closure. On contract to Guy’s five days a week, Malcolm reports to the Wilkinson family owners, Sean, Kirk and Emma, on all aspects of grounds maintenance. “After seventeen years teaching aspiring grounds professionals - no fewer than five of Manchester City’s maintenance team trained under him - I thought it was time I gave something back to the industry by putting theory into practice,” he explains. He’d started out as a mechanisation student himself in 1977 at Myerscough, eventually gaining his HND in agricultural
engineering from Rycotewood College in Thame. “Fate drew me to horticultural equipment, delving deeper into fine turf machinery management. I look on it as an art form,” he proclaims. Talking technically about the balance of blade rotational speeds and cutting efficiency, then comparing turf mowers with their giant cousins - combine harvesters, Malcolm suddenly states: “I’m very keen to improve things at Guy’s and never seem to stop learning new things.” Matching his aspirations to the owners, who, as Malcolm notes, “are happy to invest in what’s needed to bring the grounds up to a high standard. We have a collaborative relationship,” adding: There are so many sources of advice, many former students I consult before investing in materials, machinery or turf treatments.”
