Celebrating centenary of bowls club

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

In their 100th anniversary year, we take a look back at the history of Bridport Bowling Club.

The club began competitive bowls in 1923 when they were elected to the South Dorset League, by which time their membership stood at 33. In April that year, the club built a pavilion with one room reserved for ladies and the membership had swelled to 80 by the time it opened a month later.

An early reference in the Bridport News in October hailed the club’s impressive start as they notched three successive victories against Crewkerne and Axminster in friendlies, and Portland Borstal Officers in the league. With membership continuing to build, the club was able to plan for two teams in 1924, and although they only won two fixtures, the sportsmanship of the team was unquestioned, with one opponent commenting: ‘There is one thing Bridport men can take defeat in a sportsmanlike manner, and we trust to better luck next season’.

The 1925 season saw results improve, with the maturing green widely considered to be the best in Dorset. The season opened with a game against the Town Council, which became the traditional first fixture for the next 30 years.

Prominent net-maker, William Saunders Edwards, became the club’s inaugural President in 1925, and the standing of the club was further enhanced when they were affiliated to the Dorset Bowling Association in November 1926. The following season saw members reaching the

BACK IN TIME: Club members in around 1929 and, right, a ladies outing in 1973 and, below, watching a game in 1935

County Pairs Final, losing to the team who eventually went on to win the National Final. The club introduced blazers in time for the arrival of the County team in August, where the remarkable improvement on the green was evidenced with a narrow defeat at home being following by an impressive 39 – 32 win at Poole Park.

By 1929, several members had been selected to play for Dorset, however with increasing friction between the three separate sports teams at the venue, the bowls club were soon to be looking for a new home. At the Annual Supper held in November, President Edwards announced that he wished to donate a parcel of land he owned by the River

Brit, which has remained the club’s home to this day. 1930 was a milestone year in the club’s history when the new green was laid at a cost of £750, and said to be financed by J.C.Hunt, who then leased it to the club on a 99-year lease for the princely sum of £3 per annum. It was reported that the turf was transported from South Wales, with Mr Andrew Rae of Cardiff laying it diagonally from corner to corner and Major S H Cleal given the honour of laying the final piece.

Mr Edwards died in 1932, although his generosity and leadership remain central to the club’s standing today. In 1934, it was decided that women should not be allowed membership of the club, with just one day set aside for members’ wives to use the green, and a year later, the club took the unusual step to withdraw from the county league and concentrate purely on friendly matches. n Next month: 1973 to present day.

In 1937, the club adopted its badge which has been unchanged to this day, and with the onset of war in 1939, all league games were suspended although the club doors remained open to members throughout. When play resumed after the hostilities, the club continued to enhance its reputation, winning several titles, cups and individual awards.

The club joined the South Dorset League in 1964, winning it at the first attempt, and, in 1967, the club won the Baker Cup despite seeing its membership dwindle. With membership fees vital to the prosperity of the club, the growing popularity of Bridport as a retirement haven, helped to boost numbers by the end of the decade and a ladies’ section was formally re-introduced in 1965.

In 1973, with the death of J.C. Hunt and later his widow, the club took the opportunity to purchase the freehold of the club, making it one of the few clubs which owns its own facilities.

Club members celebrated its Golden Jubilee with an invitational match against the English Bowling Association, with Bridport losing 125 to 105.

At a pre-match luncheon, club President Harry Castle declared that the civic reception and visit of the EBA was the highlight of the celebration and a unique and outstanding event in the history of the club.