ROBERT NEWMAN took time off from preparing for England's medal assault on the Commonwealth Games to perform an opening ceremony at Old Green.

The celebrated outdoor and indoor international from Berkshire visited the famous Southampton club to cut the tape on the new ladies' changing room at their headquarters in Lower Canal Walk.

Accompanied by club master Graham Comley, Newman turned the key to officially open the locker room which will get plenty of use not only from Old Green's few female members but from the many ladies who visit the club for mixed matches.

Cost of the project was £1,600 and all of it was contributed by club members most of whom attended the evening which also marked the opening of Old Green's 2002 season.

It has been a busy month for Newman. He won the English Indoor BA triples Championship with his father Mike and Mark Bantock at Melton Mowbray, and 48 hours after his Southampton trip Robert was flying to South Africa for a week of warm weather training with his Commonwealth Games colleagues who included Hampshire bowlers Dean Morgan and Julian Haines.

Morgan will play in the pairs at Manchester this summer and Newman is at number two in the fours, while Haines is the team's technical coach.

Old Green's goal for the summer is to retain their place in Championship 1 of the Southampton and District BA League after winning promotion last year. But they will have to do it without Middleton Cup player Steve Cleverley - he's joined Fleming Park.

l In an attempt to attract new members Old Green are holding an open day on Saturday, May 25 (2pm-5pm) followed by a buffet.

Bowlers young or old, experienced or newcomers, are invited to come along (with flat-soled shoes) to a club whose claim to fame is that they are the oldest in the world with continuous play since 1299.

More details from club secretary Sue Pheasant on 023 8021 1494.