Graham Dalton

Born and brought up in London and the south east, Graham has moved through various careers, gaining experience along the path to arrive today as the owner/managing director of Phoenix Bowl Milford Haven.

Starting out as a trainee chef in a prestigious London Hotel in 1964, Graham moved on to be a head chef in the Forest of Dean by 1967 working for Trust House Forte. Expanding his business knowledge he worked for Walls Ice Cream in Gloucester before joining Currys Electrical plc in 1971 where he honed his management skills. A 15 year career with Currys ended when he moved to Wales to follow his wife whose career with the US Forces had taken her to US Naval Facility Brawdy. A brief spell as a house husband led to boredom and the search for a new challenge.

Graham had started the sport of 10 pin bowling in 1983 when his wife was working for the US Air Force at Greenham Common in Newbury. He took to the sport and joined leagues and entered tournaments. The move to Wales opened up the opportunity to bowl at the US Naval Facility and soon Graham was offered a part time job that within 12 months led to him being hired as the Bowling Centre manager. In 1995 when the US Forces left Brawdy Graham was then employed in the same role by the Signal Regiment. By now the 6 lane centre was not offering sufficient challenge and Graham decided that the next move was to be ownership of his own centre. This was realised in 2001 when the joint venture with the Milford Haven Port Authority saw the opening of Phoenix Bowl. The successful 6 year association with the Port Authority came to an end in January 2008 when Graham made his next move and became sole owner of the business.

Never satisfied with standing still, Graham now plans to open a new centre outside Pembrokeshire which, it is hoped, will be large enough to host National and International bowling tournaments.

Graham is a member of Team Wales and has represented Wales in tournaments all over the world including the European Team Cup & World Team Championships in 2004 in Malaysia and 2006 in Korea where he was partnered with his son Steve also a Team Wales bowler.

Graham says his goal for the business is to offer quality, affordable, all weather, family entertainment for the tourist as well as the local people. Grahams passions are business, bowling and swimming he has been married to Lois since 1975 and has a son Steve and daughter Rachel. Both Steve and Lois are integral parts of the business holding management positions.

Lois Dalton

Married to Graham in 1975 Lois has spent the greater part of her career life in banking, starting out from school in 1968 with Midland Bank Lois worked her way through various aspects of banking before leaving to start a family in 1976.

Returning to work in 1981 with American Express Banking at the US Air Force Base in Greenham Common Lois started as a cashier and soon moved through the grades until in 1986 she was appointed manager in the Bank at the US Naval Facility Brawdy. A further 5 years with HSBC led to Lois feeling the need for a career change which was realised with the birth of Phoenix Bowl.

Although not a bowler Lois is fully committed to the business and enjoys working in the bar as well as on the management team. In addition to work at Phoenix Bowl Lois manages the family home, runs a smallholding and is also a committed member of Calvary Church in Haverfordwest.

Steve Dalton

Born to Lois and Graham in October 1976 Steve grew up in the outskirts of London for the first 3 years of his life. Moving with Dads’ job in 1979 to Newbury where he went to school until the family moved to Wales in 1986.

Educated at Sir Thomas Picton School in Haverfordwest Steve loved anything to do with maths and physics or tampering with cars. From a very early age Steve showed ability in all sports, with football, pool, snooker, golf and bowling surfacing as favourites. Steve plays golf & pool regularly as well as His first choice sport of Ten-Pin Bowling.

Leaving school in 1993 Steve, like his Dad, moved through several jobs, gaining life experience until the family business was established in 2001. Steve started 10 pin bowling in 1994 at a fun level, then in 2001 Phoenix Bowl opened & he discovered he had a natural ability that led to him joining Team Wales in 2004. Like his Dad, Steve has bowled all over the world representing Wales as his home country, and is a fully qualified BTBA coach. They were the only Father and Son team in the world cup in 2006 and were proud to be joint representatives for Wales. Steve is excited about the prospect of the new Bowling Centre that the business is currently striving to start as he will be its manager. Steve commits his time to the business and various sports.