Bowling alleys
 

Agree Wildenrath Bowl was good, (next to the motor club) went back for a nostalgic visit last year, building derelict, sad, Paul H.

Yes they were, somewhere alongside the runway apparently. Absolutely scandalous. Good to hear the bowling alley is still fully operational, had some enjoyable evenings there.

Many fond memories of the bowl at Wyton, Wittering also, Any one know what happened to a certain Hinsliff? Lost touch many years back/

Hah, you just beat me to it with Gaydon's Nuffield bowl.

NutLoose:-
At Fairford, MQ appliances (Washing Machines, Fridge Freezers, etc) were buried by day in nearby quarry, and excavated at night by nearby residents. :ok:

bet they got a 'shock' when they plugged them in (after changing the funny plugs) - weren't the USMQ/BEQ/BOQ wired for 110V?

I vaguely rememeber the Laarbruch Bowl, behind the NAAFI near the front gate I think. It was really small and a bit smelly, but every time I went I think that I was half away already!

Remeber going to the Daws Hill Bowl when at Striking Command, the food was great there, loads of chips, American beer and hot dogs.

The old Marham Bowl (which was a portacabin) was closed mid 2000s, but they did build a new Families Club outside the main gate and the Bowl moved into that building, been a couple of times, but must be couple of years since last there, can't beleieve that has closed already. I did think that the Families Club seemed very quiet.

I presume the Akroitiri Bowl now makes a pot of money from the Decompression folks as that is the first place you are taken to (or I was in Dec), bit of compulsory bowling to make you feel less stressed! Or try not to bash the ball on your mates head.....it was odd, because it was the first time I had bowled without a beer in the other hand!!

Sandy:
You may well be right, but at that time these appliances were very expensive in the UK. By contrast a transformer was not and was the key to using USA electical appliances, not only in the UK but in other parts of the world using 240v.

I threw my first ball at St Eval Bowl. I think it opened while I was there but thats a bit fuzzy. One of our Cpls was trained on the AMF bowling kit and helped keep the place running. Great facility that my visiting family loved. They had no easy access to this sort of thing in 1980's UK.
Never used Wittering while I was there but did have a few trips to Lyneham bowl. Where I first got the tag as the Cpl who could outdrink his lads. Well what they didnt know was everytime i bought a round I availed myself of the alcohol free lager that they served. - If you can keep you head while all around are losing theirs, as someone once wrote...

Another one for the list, RAF Changi. We had a team there called Your Round Next.

The USN alley at Brawdy was, no doubt, a great bowling venue but even better as a restaurant - superb burgers, pizzas etc. and a great range of American beer, sodas and candies. Also had the benefit of being within staggering distance of the Mess.

Fond memories of the skittles alley at Saxa Vord (the Penguin Club) as it was the first time I met the future Mrs Critter!

"RAF" Croughton had / has an excellent bowling alley & was used by us mere mortals based at RAF Bicester - even won the league when I was part of the "Abingdon detachment" team, only there because I was utterly useless & carried the maximum handicap allowed :\

We had a Bowl at RAF Lindholme (STC Bombing School) back in 1970.......it was upstairs in the Airmens'Mess ISTR.

I remember many a happy night at Lyenham Bowl. Mrs Deepest Norfolk was one of the lane controllers.

Many a happy play fight between Jamie, our German Shepherd Dog, and "Baldrick" who would call him a mincing git and then push him around a lot until "Jimbo" would grab his arm and a rolling maul would ensue while both of them acted the dog's age (about 18 months at that point). Baldrick would end up black and blue and the dog would end up with a smug look. Our black labrador, Ben, would scrounge drinks from people and neither of the dogs would touch the non alcaholic stuff.

It was a great place with great people and a wonderful time was enjoyed by many. Mind you, LYE was a great place then and the best posting and one of the best jobs I had in the RAF. Loved it, sad to see the decline.

DN