Oakley Bowling Club’s Bob Goodyear has been rewarded for his contribution to bowling in Basingstoke by becoming the Basingstoke and District Bowling Association’s president for 2023, writes Colin Statham.

Initially joining Thornycroft in 1963, Bob’s greatest successes were during Basingstoke Town’s golden years in the 1970s and 80s, when he reached the National Finals at Worthing three times. 

In 1997 he also reached the All England Champion of Champions final.

One of his most satisfying achievements was winning the BDBA Men’s singles in 2018 – 43 years after first winning it in 1975. 

Since 1988 Bob has been a member at Oakley.

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At the district AGM, Bob thanked his club and the association for honouring him with the presidency in his 60th year of bowling.

It will be a challenging year for Bob as he leads an association which, at the AGM, decided that after 100 years, it should become a mixed association with all leagues and competitions being thrown open to two genders. 

Asked his views on the decision, Bob indicated he had no problems with the association becoming mixed, but he was disappointed at the subsequent decision to deny men in Basingstoke the opportunity to have any single gender leagues and competitions. 

In all other major areas of the county two genders have single gender leagues and competitions available to them.