LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Readers are reminded that the views expressed in the le7ers pages of the Gaze7e are those of the authors only, and not those of their clubs, unless specifically indicated.
BIRD SCARERS In the latest issue (#002) of Croquet Gaze7e Online, Duncan Hector recommends bird scarers to deter rooks and other birds that dig holes in the lawn. I don't doubt their effec6veness, because they deter me too. They work by emi8ng a very loud high‐pitched noise that can be heard by birds but is at the top of the range of human hearing, and beyond it for many. The noise is uncomfortable, so the birds move away. Older people lose the ability to detect high notes first, but many younger people can s6ll hear these pitches. Recently three were installed at my club, and I can a7est that they are like periodic jolts of the worst 6nnitus, and can cause severe headaches. It is easy to find reports from elsewhere of nausea, panic a7acks and migraines when encountering similar devices. Now, the first thing I do on arriving at our lawns is ensure that they are turned off for as long as I am there. Last year, I played at a Championship Series event, and had to ask the hosts to turn their bird scarers off on that occasion so that I could concentrate on my play. Perhaps my ears are more sensi6ve than I realise, but if at the age of 35 these are s6ll audible to me, they will be audible, harmful and off‐ pu8ng to many. If we don't want to deter younger players, we should be extremely careful of resor6ng to high‐pitch bird deterrents, and at the very least ensure that they are only turned on when nobody will be present. Thomas Halliday CLICKERS USED TO KEEP SCORES It would be interes6ng to have a debate about croquet players using clickers to keep score. I personally use a clicker to help me keep score when playing GC to either 13 or 19 hoops. However, it seems some Clubs want them banned. Is there a ruling on this? Judith Lawson Preston Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
AN EARLY OFF‐COURT MEMORY: UNSAVOURY CHARACTER My name was causing confusion, Laurence being audibly indis6nguishable from that of the Club President, whose name was spelt Lawrence. Someone asked if I had a second name, so Victor, in need of a general dus6ng down and oiling, was at last put to use, but it was like trying to do things le&‐ handed. “You will call me, if you’d like a game, won’t you?” an elderly member had suggested on a number of occasions, so, one day, I a7empted to take up her kind offer by phone. “Hello, this is... Victor.” I was aware of a faltering hesita6on over my unprac6sed introduc6on. “I was wondering if you’d like to play this a&ernoon..?” There was a click and the line went dead. I tried again. “It’s Victor here. How about a game..?” Another click. Somewhat frustrated, I decided to go to the club anyway and arrived in due course to find my intended opponent in play. “Is your telephone out of order?” I enquired, once she was seated between turns. “I tried ringing earlier but the line kept going dead.” “Oh dear! Was that you? I am sorry. I put the phone down on purpose. I thought it was, well, you know, one of those calls.” “I did say my name.” “I didn’t recognize Victor. Besides, you called at around lunch 6me. They always phone at lunch 6me. Young men si8ng in offices with nothing to do. They finger through the directory un6l they find a Miss. Some of the things they say!” A&er that, with Victor so obviously being a caller with unsavoury tendencies, I made a firm decision to revert to Laurence – with a ‘u’. By Laurence Latham
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 8
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator