THEY SAY

Skittles, but where from - Holland, Germany, any ideas?

Having been hanging around the peripheries of expert writers on sports, and their position in social history, I sometimes get sent dissertations on what I would perhaps class as pretty obscure subjects. Recently I received one which seemed to fit into that category by a gentleman named Ben Jones who reports on the rise of lawn tennis by the middle classes in the late 1800's, and how it cited the death knell for croquet. It has been seen in pub gardens in the past as a casual pastime but really it's a game for participants rather than spectators, and one that drags out for some time and consequently treated as gentle exercise rather than sport. Going into the very minutiae can be tedious or fascinating, depending on ones love of a subject, and I have to say a good deal of this did hold my attention. (Please email me if you would like a link). Tennis makes good television these days of course, but I'm not too sure if croquet would! (Having said all that, the Stalbridge Petanque Club also have a croquet section and also note that ‘Masters Games’ have sets for sale). In my opinion, I think snooker reached his zenith some years ago, the television having promoted it big time to start with – particularly by the time we all had colour televisions (yes, at one time, life was all in black and white!) Also the advent of

Why doesn’t Vinny ever get a joke?

Unmistakeably Aunt Sally. Channel 4 in 1982, which showed many hours of snooker, particularly in the early days of that channel. Thanks to the recent snooker World Championships I have been led to believe that the game has held it's own, for the time being at least, thanks to information gleaned from a distributor of snooker related equipment. The trend toward pool has, in my opinion, accelerated the decline, not least by the action of coinoperated tables in pubs; so much easier to install, shift or remove and of course the blindingly obvious quality; it takes up so much less room than a snooker table. I'm not a fan, but this matters not; if it gets people in to pubs to play some competitive sports then that's fine by me. Every little helps, to coin a phrase.

I recently heard that the Yeovil cribbage league is looking to restart in September. The lady behind it is Jan Stallard, who with her late husband Richard, ran the much-missed ‘Fleur de Lys’ on Mudford Road/St Michaels Avenue. Those interested should get in touch with Jan by, or preferably before 15th June at jmstallard37@gmail.com or give her a call on 07971 355511. You don't even have to be able to play, just have a bit of enthusiasm, and Jan will be delighted to help you get started in this great pub card game.

Pictures this month come from a correspondent who found the picture of outdoor skittles – where is this being played – can you help? Also a clearly very formal game of Bat and Trap and the unmistakable game of Aunt Sally. All games that make the summer visits to the pub and the pub garden so beautifully English!

As to whether Samuel Johnson was a pub games fan or not I cannot possibly say, but when it comes to great quote, then I reckon he's spot on. I'll see you in the local. Cheers! © P.A. Baxter 2022. skittlealley@hotmail.com That the Sparkford Roundabout

Camel, mentioned in this column last month, has made a run for it, and has been observed ensconced in a South

Cadbury garden. That since the tree lopping at

Yeovil Bandstand, it is renamed Totem Pole Square or

Chingachgook Creek. That it would be lovely to hear a nice brass band once in a while in Yeovil’s much wasted

Bandstand. That since a recent delivery,

Sprowston’s Mrs Janet Feakins now has to remember her deep breathing technique when using her tumble dryer. That habits are changing for the

Chiselborough heron, no longer does he swoop in for a quick breakfast before anyone is about, he now takes thirty minutes by the pond for a leisurely lunch. That when it comes to wheelbarrows, Sparkford’s

Jason Hoddinott can think of a 101 uses for his. That Yeovil’s Ninesprings is a delightful walk, but it would be nice to have somewhere to sit down when tired. C’mon Yeovil

Council, wake up! That the Zaza, (a mixture of

Dubonnet and Beefeater

London Dry Gin), is a resurrection of the Queen’s favourite French aperitif and to celebrate the Platinum

Jubilee, the UK’s leading pub company and brewer, Greene

King, will add this extra special cocktail to its Bristol city centre and town pub menus.

Solution to May Sudoku

ANSWERS TO ROCK MUSIC QUIZ

1. Smoke on the water 2. John Paul Jones 3. Blackout 4. Steve Hoggarth 5. Cozy Powell 6. Lights Out 7. Wings of Heaven 8. Blade 9. Bad Company 10. Behind Closed Doors