City and Port of Bristol Bowls Club

CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLING CLUB

Before looking at how the PBA Bowls Club grew from the day in June 1970 when it was born, there is good and positive news about bowling in 2020.

Despite the restrictions imposed by Bowls England in response to the Covid 19 outbreak there has been bowling at the City and Port Green and almost twenty bowlers have been along to enjoy it. Some have been every week, others less often but importantly ---- there has been bowling! Two hour pre-arranged roll ups have been enjoyed since June 16th when Charlie Maby and Dave Chilcott became the first bowlers this year to bowl woods on the green. Since August a mini-pairs competition has been running to add a little competitive edge to simply rolling up. Four pairs entered to play each other twice in 15 end games with three points for a win and two for a draw. Leading the field at the half way stage were Charlie Maby and Dave Chilcott followed by Ken Davies and Bill Hatherall, but, with the second round of games to come it’s all to play for. Dee and Brian Crawley and Gill and David Hinksman were still very much in it with three games left to play. The final result will be in the next edition.

There has also been plenty of activity around the edges of the green and on it in order to keep everything in tip top condition. The Monday gardeners have done a tremendous job of keeping the green surround looking great and the Green Keeper is already into his Autumn Programme of work. Returning to the story of the clubs early years and development it is clear from the original minute book that no time was lost in first of all finding somewhere to play, making fixtures, becoming affiliated to the Gloucestershire County Association and the City and County of Bristol Association and joining the Men’s League --- known then as the Bristol South West League ---- a lot of progress in a short time. Other things seemed to have been organised very quickly too--- a Dance came along in the first year and valuable profit made from it. Mr.Edney was at the time General Manager at the port and the club approached him to see if he would be President ---- he said yes and presented a trophy --- still played for today. The Men’s Four Wood singles is the top men’s singles competition and the winner goes forward to compete at County Level in the Champion of Champions, which ends ultimately in National Finals in Leamington Spa. Mr. Edney was President for three years and when he retired at the port he was succeeded by the new general manager ---- Mr. Lowery.

In the early days the club had not only a man- agement committee but a selection committee and a green committee. Meetings of the man- agement committee seemed to be held quite often --- initially at the Port Office but soon at a variety of local pubs. Two ladies ---- Mrs Kidd and Mrs. Leach did teas for home matches at the old Avonmouth Green in the early days. They were presented with a small cash voucher each at the end of the first season but subsequently were given expenses on the day. Something that seemed to be a problem in the early days was the transportation of club woods to away games. The club had purchased eight sets of woods at the outset and these were being used rather than members having their own as is the custom today. The problem was resolved by a decision that individuals would be responsible for the transportation of the woods they were using. There were changes in club officers, changes in committee members and a gradual increase in numbers from the original 30. The number of club competitions grew and a club league was formed thanks mainly to the efforts of Ian Wilson. The league became so big that at one time it was played on Tuesday as well as Monday evenings. In 1974 the club left Avonmouth to play on the new green adjacent to the PBA Club in Shirehampton. By the 1980s Ladies were seen on the green and at one stage total membership reached 140. There was success for the club and for individual players locally and at National Level. A number of ladies were seen in National Finals at Leamington Spa such was the level of success at that time. For a number of years men entered two teams in the Bristol and District League and the Ladies played in the top division of their league as well as competing in the Inter-Club and Top Club competitions --- something they do to this day --- but not this year!

So --- there we have it – the club that grew from a few men wanting to try – this bowling lark and then in 1970 forming the club is still going and looking to the future when hopefully bowling will return to normality.

For further information about the club and its activities please call David Hinksman on 0117 9082713. 31