CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLING CLUB The annual Summer Tour, planned originally to take place in August 2020 but postponed to August 2021 due to Covid 19 has been postponed again and will now be in August 2022. The return visit to Eastbourne, first visited in 2016 has once again fallen victim to Covid 19 and the Tour Committee, with regret had no option but to call this year’s tour off. With the new bowling season fast approaching there is hope that it will be possible to play against other clubs in both friendly and competitive games and that competitions at club, county and national level will take place. Preparation for a full season is going ahead but much will depend on directions from the government and also from Bowls England between now and the start of the 2021 season in Mid-April. It is hoped that membership numbers will increase for the new season and efforts to attract new bowlers of all ages will be stepped up once the season is underway. The club has much to offer not the least of which is a large, free car park. Many other clubs have little or no car parking at their greens. Being a part of the Social and Sports Club on the same site offers the opportunity to use and take part in other activities that take place there. There is no longer a membership fee payable to use the main club. The Bowls Club annual membership fee is the lowest in the area and for new members there is no joining fee. You can try bowling free of charge --- up to three trial sessions before deciding if bowling is for you. If you join and pay full membership a club shirt is yours, free of charge. The club has qualified coaches and they offer coaching sessions --- also free of charge. Bowling is the sport for all so --- why not come and join us.
12
Learn a new skill in pleasant surroundings whilst making new friends and becoming part of something that has a lot to offer whether you are keen on competition or a pleasant afternoons bowling in the sun is more to your taste. There was a time when the club had so many members that a cap had to be put on how many should be allowed to join. At the AGM in 1985 Pat Warren proposed and Bomber Daley seconded a motion that the total number of members be limited to 120. This was to be 80 men and 40 ladies. If anyone applied to join beyond that number it would be up to the committee to decide what to do. The motion was carried. It would be good to have need of such a rule today!! Since the foundation of the club in 1970-- known then as the PBA Bowls Club and very much based at the port there has been, with one notable exception a Club President. Initially and for a few years that followed the General Manager at The Port was asked if he would be President. Mr.G.E.Edney was the first to accept and was President from 1970 until 1972. Mr.G.Lowery followed him and held office from 1973-76.Mr.Stanley Turner then became General Manager and according to club records was approached to carry on the tradition of General Managers being Bowls Club President. It was not recorded that he accepted the invitation and no further mention was made regarding his involvement with the club. So it has to be assumed that he declined. It was ten years before Jack Ashton, A Port Policeman took on the role of President and he served from 1987 until 1990. In the next edition we will look at who followed on from Jack and how each was significant to the club. For further information about the club, its activities and how to join please call David Hinksman on 0117 9082713.
