Loading data...           First spade being put into the ground by.....  This was after the first week.  Digging down to the hard rock.  Here is week two, 31st August and much work has been done.  You can now see the shape of our new bowling green.  There was a lot of interest and excitement as it was developing.  It was rolled first and then in came the hard core.  Yes - lorry after lorry for two days.  70 Centimetres of hardcore all over the base.  All levelled and rolled again.  Then covered with fine stones.  Now the pipes and blocks for the ditch.  In they go making sure the 'fall' is right.  The man with the bald head was the foreman and was very efficient.  They were very keen to get the job right as this was their first bowling green project.  The ditch is now being excavated according to plan.  The first layer of concrete is now being laid.  It is now starting to look like a proper bowling green.  Then unfortunately work had to stop for three days due to rain.  After the rain the steel arrived for the green drainage ditches..  ..and the steel for the ditch walls.  This was then covered with concrete.  This was then covered with concrete.  The foundation for the club house is now laid..  ..and the foundation for the cesspit are put in.  Then the reinforcing steel for the paths are put down.  The hardcore filling for the club house is poured in.  The contractor has been working very hard and the building work is gathering pace.  Now the main part of the job.  The last steel is put down with a laser to check all the levels.  The paths are now concreted.  The pathways and the edge of the main green are now finished.  The club house is now started and the top layer of concrete is laid on the green.  The foreman is piping in the concrete for the main club house wall foundations.  We were all getting very excited as it started to look like a bowling green.  More cement is added and now it has a top layer which is 8 inches thick.  Leveling off yet more cement.  The club house is also coming along nicely.  Work is now started on the top wall.  First the underlay was put down.  Then they polished all the concrete to make sure it was smooth.  The club house is nearly completed.  There was great excitement when the carpet arrived.  First the underlay was put down on the base.  All the carpet had arrived waiting to be fitted.  The carpet men started by laying strips to the ditch wall.  Everything was now ready for the laying of the carpet.  The first run of carpet being put down.  The green carpet looked very strange surrounded by the brown earth.  The first run of sticking proved a bit problematic.  The sticking machine was playing up but it was soon sorted out.  Many of the steering committee were at the site to watch the laying of the last of the carpet.  The carpet was now almost finished.  The last run of carpet going down.  With the help of the steering committee and a few more hours of stretching ….  .....we now have the best made and truest bowling green in the region. It still is after 10 years.  The walls being put up along with the fence and hardcore for the patio.  Building work was coming along nicely.  The last of the cement is laid for the patio.  With all the cement that was put down it should never move.  Everyone was very busy on site.  All the workman did a wonderful job of making sure everything was level.  The inside of the club house.  Rink markers were put on the walls of the green.  And here are the tiles arriving for the patio.  Now the stone cladding was added to the club house.  Washing down the patio tiles as they are laid.  Rendering the walls of the club house.  The last of the patio ties are being washed down.  Cliff and Andy are digging the holes for the trees.  Ken's party is cutting the carpet to fit.  Painting is beginning on the paths. Don Weaver is doing his share of the painting.  Mick is roller painting the path.  Pat is putting the finishing toughes to the path.  Everything stops for tea.  Rob is keeping her eye on Ken as he covers the outside wall.  Some of the girls arrived and we had bacon, eggs,tomatoes and fried bread!.  The boys then work much harder - here putting the finishing touches to the terrace.  The plastering is being done inside the club house and the bar is taking shape.  Nearly there. Last touches to the club house.  Some of the trees have arrived. That is a job for Cliff.  The trees are planted and it is almost ready for the green to be opened.  Grand Opening Ceremony. The local Mayor opening the new Indalo Bowling Club.  What a fabulous day! A lot of work by a lot of people had gone into making all this possible.  The Mayor with our first president, Mike Watts.  Our first day of bowling. How exciting! .  It was fantastic bowling and it was all ours.  Our carpet is considered so good, that we had ladies trials for World Bowls here.  The ladies enjoyed bowling on our new green.  On Feb 26 & 27 2001 we played the first Friendship Cup between 3 teams from Costa Blanca, Coast Almeria and Costa del Sol.  A great time was had by all, but we lost!.  We had to give the cup to Jimmy from Costa del Sol.  In .. we had the World Invitation Wheelchair Bowls Championships.  There were 48 competitors from 12 different countries.  Much hard work by many members, getting the bowlers on and off the green and pushing them up and down the rink.  A great time was had by all. Thanks to everyone who came to one of our first big events. Hopefully many more to come in the future.  Just to show you the setting of our club, then (2002)...  ...and now (2015). Will get a better photo to go here!!            |