CAPTAIN J. W. H. HOLMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18961, 11 March 1936, Page 4

CAPTAIN J. W. H. HOLMES

BOWLING CLUB FAREWELL

AN OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Assembling last evening in the pavilion, members of the Gisborne Bowling Club addressed farewell honours to Captain J. W. H. Holmes, a prominent player and official of the club, who owing to having accepted an appointment as master of the ship Port Waikato, is to take up residence in Auckland. The gathering was a large one, testifying to the popularity of Captain Holmes, and many tributes were paid to Hie departing member’s services to the club and to the game generally. The club president, Mr. IT. Miller, in conveying to Captain Holmes a small memento of the long association he had had with the Gisborne bowling green, remarked that no member had been more energetic in the prosecution of the duties of club office, none more populai on the green, and few indeed as successful as their guest ak a skip of representative rinks in open’ competition. It was with sincere regret that His fellowmembers would bid him farewell, for they were losing one of the club’s most ardent players, and one who had most worthily upheld its prestige on the green and in the official contract of its business.

Captain Holmes, said Mr. Miller, had been numbered among the presidents of 'the club, and for a number of years had served as a member of the committee ; and all would join in wishing him the best of luck for the future, a gesture of goodwill which would also include, of course, Mrs. Holmes. All would hope, too, that at some future time Captain Holmes would' again take up his residence here, and resume his membership of the Gisborne club. REDOUBTABLE “SKIPPER” Messrs. H. E. Maude, H. E. Bright, H. Armstrong, H. H. DeCosta, and H. K. Popple also eulogised the work done for tlie club by Captain Holmes, and the example of keenness and sportsmanship lie had given oil the green. Mr. W. McKenzie, of the Poverty Bay club, also joined in extending the warmest wishes " for Captain Holmes’ future success in his calling and in his hobby. Mr. McKenzie stated that the president of the Gisborne Bowling Centre had asked him to extend to Captain Holmes the best wishes of that body for his future success. He added that he had encountered the redoubtable “Skipper” on many’’occasions in bowling competitions, and hoped to re new that pleasure when the exigencies of Captain Holmes’ calling would permit.

Returning thanks for the memento and also for the kindly sentiments expressed towards himself and Mrs. Holmes, Captain Holmes stated that he needed no tangible reminder of the happiness and good-fellowship he had found as a member of the club. As one who had taken a part in the management of the club, he felt that he could urge members to give their committee their loyal support, in their endeavours to overcome the difficult situation now confronting the organisation. The club could he on a much better footing, financially, - and to achieve that improvement it was necessary that whole-hearted co-operation should he forthcoming from every member.

Concluding, Captain Holmes assured the gathering that when the principal events of the howling year came round, lie would he with them in spirit, and would follow with keen interest the doings of club representatives. He entertained the hope that on his retirement from the sea he would be able to return to Gisborne and resume his membership, for. he could not imagine any environment in which he would find himself more happily situated.