Bowled over by slice of France (From Echo)
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Bowled over by slice of France
9:20am Wednesday 18th August 2010 in
FRANCOPHILES have been bowled over by the latest addition to a park.
The first petanque square in the Basildon district was officially opened at Lake Meadows in Radford Crescent, Billericay.
Petanque sees players throw a series of balls as near as possible to a jack.
All players have to bring along are a set of boules.
The project was inspired by player Paul Lewis and the Billericay Petanque Group.
It cost £15,000 and was paid for by Basildon Council, Essex County Council Community Initiative Fund, and Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea.
Kevin Blake, responsible for leisure and arts at Basildon Council, said the square had already proved very popular.
He said: “We might not have won the World Cup but hopefully in a few years we will be able to beat the French at petanque.
“You can see how popular it is by the number of people playing down there, particularly older people, who can use it to help them stay healthy.”
Comments(2)
essex beaufighter
says...
3:15pm Fri 20 Aug 10
stropmag wrote:Yeah, he'll probably argue that he is a keen sportsman with a physiche just right for darts 180eeeeeeeeeeeeee! Still, strange for a councillor not to grasp the opportunity of being in the picture.
The last time I saw a picture of Kevin Blake (in 'The Echo' incidentally) he appeared in much need of some sporting activity to stay(?) healthy himself. In fact I was surprised not to see him in the photo in this report. Perhaps he was downing a couple of pints and a pie or two at one of Billericay's famed public houses.
I'm still waiting for a reply from him. Maybe he is busy writing that LOL. Won't hold my breath.
He talks about beating the French in petanque but maybe he and his buddies should concentrate on something more worthwhile and at least try to draw with the french in the way travellers are dealt with.
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Let the games begin – from left, Martin Wakelin, from Veolia, with councillors Kay Twitchen Mo Larkin and Colin Riley
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stropmag says...
7:13pm Thu 19 Aug 10