Francis Drake Bowls Club

Arthur Lui Guidotti, 1926 - 2018

While Arthur was able to play, he was a dedicated, reliable member of Francis Drake Bowls Club. You could guarantee he would arrive in good time even if he hadn’t been selected to play in every game.

During the winter months he would spend many hours at the club house, filling in the many cracks which appeared every season, painting, building benches and generally repairing, and doing anything which needed doing in spite of the bitter cold weather, which he insisted did not bother him. Arthur was made a Life Member of the club for all his work and his loyalty.

 He loved to tell his stories of life in the army, tales of his early family life in Brockley, and much more, to anyone who would listen, even if he had told them many times before!

 Over the last four years or so, his health began to deteriorate quite rapidly, and he was unable to carry on with the DIY which he had loved to do. But he carried on bowling during the summers when he felt able, although not competitively and was always the “dapper” dresser he was known for.

 The Club held a surprise 90th birthday bash for him in our marquee, which he enjoyed enormously and talked about to visiting teams at every opportunity.

 But every winter he became more frail and we wondered if we would see him outdoors next season although he did visit the Indoor Bowls Centre occasionally during the winter months.

 It was still a shock to hear he would not be around any more, but we know he will be watching over us and, if any cakes or biscuits go missing, we will know that Arthur has paid us a visit!

Ron Phillips