After two weeks of exceptionally hot and dry weather the croquet lawns must have relished the combination of heavy showers and mild sunshine when Chester played at home against Bury in the NW Federation mid-week association croquet handicap league on Wednesday, 28 July. For the players it was a different matter – alternately donning waterproofs and sheltering under umbrellas and then adjusting to variable lawn conditions during short intervals of sunshine. The Chester team of David Guyton (captain), Elmyr Hughes, Brian Walton and Nigel Worthington faced an experienced team from Bury which resulted in some close games with only two pegging out before time. By lunchtime Chester was just ahead having won the doubles game and one of the two singles games in the morning. The four singles games in the afternoon were also closely fought with Chester eventually winning three of the four to give an overall result of 5 – 2 in Chester’s favour.