The Boundary Club

The Deepings best kept secret

When Frederick Gibbons bought the Granary in Market Deeping in the early 1920s to house his expanding agricultural machinery business, he needed most of the space (Issues 31&32) for the office, the granary, the maltings, the workshops, the forge, the garages and the petrol pump! But he still found room for a billiards room, where he founded the Market Deeping Billiards Club. He enjoyed the sport and was proud of the Club which is why he had the magnificent wroughtiron gate made in his forge, bearing its initials. Of course, he was the first Chairman of the Club and in 1925 he became President.

Records show that in November 1931 the annual meeting took place in the Clubroom with Mr Dexter presiding. Accounts showed a balance in hand of over £15 which was considered very satisfactory. Frederick Gibbons was again pronounced President. The Committee consisted of Messrs Eastgate, Palmer,

Dexter, Prentice, Otter and King and Dr Barrett. The subscriptions were reduced from 10 shillings to7s 6d.

In May 1950 there were 30 entrants in the Club Snooker handicap at the Club and R. Exton emerged as the champion for the second year, defeating J. Wordsall by two frames. Tom King, the Club’s veteran chairman, presented him with the Stacey Cup.

Tom had been a keen billiards player for over 30 years and up to the age of 84 he cycled to the Market Deeping Club from his home in West Deeping. Born in Newborough in 1870, he worked as a farm bird-scarer for Mr Vergette until the age of 17 when he went to the horse training business of Mr Boniface in Thorney, which he later took over after a six-year stint as a groom and gardener for the Revd. Simmonds, Vicar of Thorney. Tom ran the horse training business for eight years. It was here that he met and married Rose who was a parlour maid to one of the stewards on the Duke of Bedford’s estate. She had provided lodgings for customers who brought their horses for training and to young men sent to Thorney by the Duke for training in estate work. The couple had two daughters, Nellie and Lillian. In 1928 Lillian married farm labourer, Frederick Payen, son of Auguste Payen, born in France and the Farm Bailiff at Holland’s Distillery in Market Deeping (Issue 03).

The family moved to a smallholding in King Street, West Deeping, which the couple ran until Tom’s retirement in 1955. He had retained the stack yard and buildings, keeping poultry and pigs until a year before his death when a severe illness rendered him partially blind. As well as billiards, Tom had been a member of the Market Deeping Bowls Club and had been a well-known runner in his younger days, winning many prizes. On one occasion in Whittlesey a man challenged him to a three-mile race between Thorney and Eye for £5 and Tom proudly recounted that he ‘finished in 16 minutes and 2 seconds; the other chap gave up with half a mile to go’.

An all-round community champion, Tom was a parish councillor, foundation manager of the West Deeping School, trustee of the village charity and churchwarden at St Andrew’s for 46 years. Rose was a member of the West Deeping WI. Rose and Tom celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary in June 1960. Both having been recently in hospital, the day was celebrated with a modest drive in the car with their daughter and son-in-law. Tom died later that year and is buried in the King Street Cemetery, Rose died six years later and is buried in the adjoining plot.

Fred Gibbons died in 1941 and his sons, Tom and Walter, continued with the business. Daughter Connie lived alone in the house after her mother Annie’s death in 1953. The Billiard Club continued to meet at the Granary. In November 1970, Mr Harrison presided and Mr Stacey, while retiring as secretary, reported a successful year with a membership and table takings the highest for three years (Issue 48). Mr Harrison was elected as chairman, Mr Knight as secretary, and Mr Tomalin as treasurer. Sam Bloomfield was presented with the knock-out cup and it was decided to provide a new table cover and new floor covering.

Connie died in December 1972 and as the family were more involved with quarrying they decided to sell the Granary and associated buildings to Market Deeping Building Company and the Billiards Club had to find a new home.

Eventually the Club found land on Bridge Street, Deeping St James, near to the Three Tuns pub and the building occupied by the Red Cross and Army Cadets. Originally it opened seven days a week with two tables. In March 1987 five players from the Club competed in a 24-hour marathon completing 60 frames and raising more than £210, a third of which went to Sense and the rest towards the extension of the Club’s premises.

Several local families have been members of the Club, now with a broader remit and known as The Boundary Club after briefly being known as the Snooker Club. Richard Wilson is one of the original members since the 1970s and the McGhees, the Walkers, Smiths and the Suttons have long been supporters of the Club along

The Club now has three snooker tables and played host to the late Willie Thorne as well as Nicole Lawrence of Britain’s Got Talent. There is karaoke on the first Friday of every month and the Club have staged their first Open Mic night. The Club can also be hired out for events and parties.

Opening hours are 18.45 - 11.45 Tuesday - Friday, Sat 18.45 - 12.45 and Sunday 2.00- 23.45. 124 Bridge St, DSJ, PE6 8EH 01778 346115. www.boundaryclubdeeping.com

Easter 7th - 10th April

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: MONDAY-SATURDAY 9-6. SUNDAY 10-4

Tel: 01778 347500