The Worth Valley Bowling Association's annual meeting was held recently at Cross Hills and it saw the re-election of all officials and two extra teams elected to the league.

Holmfield Park (Halifax) joined the Saturday League and Settle entered a team in the Veterans Monday afternoon competition. Additional teams from Whins Wood made the league decide to revert to three sections on Saturday from this season. The exact format was left to the Executive to decide in time for the next meeting on March 20.

The Skipton annual meeting was also held recently and saw Roy Sanderson replace David Ellis as President for the next two years. It is Roy's third term in office. Doug Stone (Sutton) was elected as Vice-President.

Newcomers Cross Hills 'C' were being placed in Division Three and Mr Peter Haworth remains as secretary/treasurer after another successful season.

There was also very little to report from the Hebden Bridge AGM. The season begins on April 2 with preliminary rounds in the Sunday Morning knockout competition.

There was sad news for all local players with the recent deahs of two well known players.

Peter Lee, who played for Skipton Devon, was well known in the area and hailed from Cononley where he proved an all rounder of some skill both at football and cricket in his younger days. He put the same effort into bowling and his determination to win was well known. His sudden death just after Christmas was a shock to all.

Terry Thornber has also passed away after a long illness and was part of a family well known in local bowling circles, both his sons, Alan and Ian, being excellent players on their day.

Terry was one the nice guys of bowling who always tried his best, but with very little success. He played at Highfield in the early days and more recently turned out for Cross Roads.

Roy Sanderson's favourite memory of Terry goes back to the 1960's when , as a lad, he played for Oakworth 'B' in the old Keighley League: "We were playing Devonshire Park and as young beginners were amazed as an equally young John Sugden, now the Oakworth Postmaster, defeated their top star, David Bottomley.

"Four days later, Bottomley returned to Oakworth in a Keighley competition and drew poor Terry. He played Terry on the same mark that Sugden had beaten him on and proceeded to 'dry rub' him 21-0. Terry tried all he knew but failed to score.

"Of course Terry was gracious in defeat and sportingly offered his congratulations. One wonders what some of todays superstars would have made of that," Roy said.

Our condolences go to both their families.