THE dream has finally been realised for one long-time servant of Baldock Bowls Club. Alan Cross, now aged 72, has qualified for this year s national bowls championships at Worthing. He had tried in vain for nearly 35 years to reach Worthing, losing 10 Her

THE dream has finally been realised for one long-time servant of Baldock Bowls Club.

Alan Cross, now aged 72, has qualified for this year's national bowls championships at Worthing.

He had tried in vain for nearly 35 years to reach Worthing, losing 10 Herts county semi-finals in this time.

Now he has got there in three different disciplines - singles, triples and fours - after trying every year since 1973.

He qualified in the singles despite being beaten in the Herts county final by Steve Kilford from the Roebuck club in Stevenage.

Alan will be joined by clubmates Tony Castle and Ian Greig in the triples and by Castle, Greig and Jimmy McIntyre in the fours.

He said: "It's wonderful and after all the disappointments, it's great to finally get there.

"And to qualify in three different things is amazing.

"People have said it's like waiting for a bus or train for a long time and then three coming along at once!"

Alan has been a stalwart and popular figure in the lawn bowls world in Hertfordshire since the early 1970s.

He has been a key member of the Baldock club where he always ensures that others are put first and that a friendly welcome is ensured to all visitors.

He also works tirelessly for bowls in Hertfordshire as well as for the club.

Alan, who was captain at Baldock for 17 years in two separate spells, said: "It's been my life really.

"I've held all the positions and done all the jobs in the club and enjoyed them all."

The Worthing championships start a week on Saturday (August 19) and run until September 1.

A good omen for the Baldock fours is that it is exactly three decades since the club became national champions and then went on to claim the British Isles fours title the following year.