Sport is seen as a great equaliser spanning across the generations, writes Jonathan Twigg, but it can be no more epitomised than by 14 year old Dexter Thomas and 90 year old Brian Oughton, who have been team members all summer in the colours of Haverfordwest, St Thomas Bowls team, playing in Division2 of the Pembroke County Bowls League.
There is little surprise that Dexter took up the sport of Bowls, his ‘Bampy’ Steve Davies, brother Harvey, alongside parents Paul and Natasha all involved, although it was the persuasive qualities of his Bampy who set the wheels, or perhaps ‘woods’ in motion for the youngster’s involvement. The Haverfordwest High VC School pupil has returned to his studies this week, with the focus on his GCSE courses starting in earnest, where the bowls link continues as History teacher Tim Plamer is another name appearing on the team sheet throughout the summer months.
If bowls is the young man’s summer sport, his winters will be spent between ‘the sicks’ for Merlins Bridge u15s, a side coached by Eddie Collins and Gereint Thomas and his own game based on Manchester City goalkeeper until this week, Ederson, of little surprise seeing he is an avid follower of the ‘Blue Moon’. “I’ve always wanted to participate fully in the game, even as the last line of defence and both Eddie & Gereint encourage this, which makes it so enjoyable to be a fulcrum, on par with my team mates and valued for my contribution” said Dexter, with a broad smile which was a constant all summer for him also.
“Bowls is also a team game, but as one of four players on a rink, I’ve realised how important the individual is within that team. I’ve enjoyed playing as the rink lead, which sets the standard for my three fellow bowlers to follow, once I’ve rolled the ‘jack’ across the green and sent my two woods along that same pathway. It takes a lot of concentration to maintain the standard I set for myself, which has definitely improved as the season has gone on and I’m thankful for the advice I’ve received from fellow ‘Harfat’ bowlers, who are always positive and encouraging.”
Mum Natasha was also a young covert to the sport, having started out when attending Haverfordwest VC Primary School and their summer PE lessons took place on the green at the Parade under the watchful tutorage of Club icons like Lyndon Frayling, John Dockerty and the late David Jones. “As a family we are heavily invested into the culture of the Club, but it has been Dexters choice to embrace the game” said Natasha, who like Paul supports both her sons in their sporting endeavours, Dexters elder brother Harvey a recipient of a scholarship to Llandovery for the next two years, as part of the Scarlets rugby pathway.
“I like the competitive edge of the game” Dexter enlightened us once again with his broad grin evident, “but at the same time there is a friendly social aspect which is important and something I enjoy being part of.” Haverfordwest Club captain Darren Latham spoke highly of Dexter, “where it is clear to see his knowledge and understanding of the game has developed as the season progressed, but most importantly he understands the etiquette of the game and he is certainly someone his teammates and opposition enjoy having on the green”.
Dexter won’t be shutting the door of the Bowls Club once the summer season ends where he will be a key member of the Clubs dart team for the winter league season, to run in conjunction with his footballing escapades and he has already committed his name as a participant for 2026. “I’d love to be able to play regularly next season for the first team, but I realise I’ve got to add the consistency required to do so, to my game. I enjoyed the time I spent practicing to improve my game all summer, but the only place to really improve is in the heat of the battle. Bring it on!”
At the other end of the spectrum is nonagenarian Brian Oughton, who was born and raised in Milford Haven but is fully committed to Haverfordwest Bowls Club, 35 years after he was persuaded to play for Tabernacle Short Mat Bowls by long standing friend, the late Johnny Jones.
Sport has always played a part in Brians life, from the time he plied his trade as an inside right forward for the RNAD football side in the Pembrokeshire league, his competitive nature still apparent in his efforts when rolling the woods, something which may well have been bred from the fact he had 14 siblings, with six of them still fighting the good cause today, alongside their brother. It would have been a keen contest to view between Brian and his young team mate Dexter if they had happened to face each other on the football fields of the County; one wonders who would take the bragging rights onto the green for summer!
The camaraderie shown within Brians family is also a mantra he has taken onto the bowling green, the challenges undertaken with an unending desire to succeed, but not at the cost of a handshake at the end of the game, win or lose, standards set from his time in the Army, where he became a corporal. He worries little about his own performance, knowing he tried with every wood he rolled and on the rare occasion he needed to improve, it was his mindset to ensure that it was his next wood which counted.
Married for nigh on 70 years to Julie, he has seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, some close to home but others further afield in Australia, a place he visits regularly and has been known to take in a game of bowls or two when down under; Brian is inspirational, within his own family network but also with his team, where his colleagues welcome his efforts and good humour into the rink with relish. He has no regrets, not even turning down booking ‘The Beatles’ for a gig when he was Secretary of the Pill Social Centre, satisfied that it was a job well done with the likes of The Who, Lulu, Freddy and the Dreamers, The Tremeloes, and The Kinks all appearing in West Wales because of Brian. That is Brian’s chaunt in how he tackles each and every day.
Even as a nonagenarian, his spirit for life is a cornerstone for others, where he trains several times a week still in the local Leisure Centre gym alongside being the group leader for a walking group in the locality. Independence and resilience are two words often used to describe Brian and he certainly brings those to the fore on the bowling green, Club Captain Darren Latham again giving a sterling endorsement, “if we had sixteen players like Brian in our team every weekend, we would be feared across the whole of Wales and beyond.”
Both Dexter and Brian are two contrasting men, where Haverfordwest Club are be proud to call them members. Suffice to consider, if young Dexter is still playing bowls in 76 years’ time, that would have spanned three centuries with a common link, of bowls; undeniably, both are a credit to the game of bowls, the Haverfordwest Club and their families. As the season draws quietly to its autumnal finish, it is notable their thoughts are already focused, on the 2026 season.
