We will be running sessions for U3A members on Thursday afternoons weekly from the first Thursday in May in cooperation with the Long Eaton Park Croquet Club who provide the equipment. The lawns are behind the Leisure Centre in West Park.

We welcome players new to the game. It is a game of tactics as well as skill and people usually find it engaging and enjoyable. You can progress rapidly from abysmal to not too bad: after that it depends on your aptitude. New players will be partnered by someone with more experience, given a short briefing on the rules and guided as they play. Members of the LEPCC play in our sessions for free having paid their subs (£36) to the club. We play to win but we also play to have fun and we are not too earnest. Wear sensible shoes but no special clothing is required. Play continues in light rain so a waterproof may be needed. It can be cool, especially early in the season, so layers are the best idea. The season extends until the end of September but we often play into October.

I will need some help getting equipment out at 1.15pm and putting it away, when necessary, at 4pm so I would be glad of a few people prepared to do this, please.