HISTORY OF OUR CLUB
The Origins of Bowls – Click Here
- Parrot Shield
- Marjorie Stewart Inkstand
- Website Pages Archives 2009 – Present
- Club Organisation 2012 – present
All Photos and Honours can be seen in ‘The History Album’ (beneath the Trophy Cabinet in The Pavilion) – The Album was donated by Lew Collier
Photos and Information kindly donated by: Maria Forbes – Local Historian ; Colin Westlake , John Blewitt, Mike Adams, Jonathon Feltham
1920 - 1921
We must thank our three founders (Messrs. Moore, Anthony and Weekes ) who were privileged to play on the lawn of Hampden in Sidcot Lane (the home of Mr Moore). In 1920 they had that gem of an idea of establishing a bowling club in Winscombe.
The ground on Sandford Road was obtained and the club opened in May 1922.
The rest as they say ‘is history’!
The first meeting of the Winscombe Bowling Club Committee met at The Railway Inn.
The site of the former Railway Inn is adjacent to the Woodborough Inn (now the car park) and the buildings followed the line of what is now Woodborough Drive.
Minutes were hand written – this is the hand of Fred Anthony 3rd May 1922
NOTES EXTRACTED FROM FIRST MINUTE BOOK
These are the first minutes recorded for Winscombe Bowling Club:
Minutes of Committee Meeting held at the Railway Hotel, Winscombe, May 3rd 1921
Present:- Messrs. J.A.Dunster, Amesbury, Moore, Weeks, Todd, Compton, Wake and Anthony
It was unanimously resolved that the Club be designated the Winscombe Bowling Club Limited.
Rules for regulating the Club were considered and finally adopted and the Secretary was ordered to have 75 copies printed
It was decided to call a meeting for Thursday 18 inst. at 7.30pm.
This postcard from about 1924 is Winscombe Bowling Club opposite the Village schools in Sandford Road . You can see the pavilion is being constructed(top left)
1929
Also in 1929 saw the first County Match played at Winscombe – Somerset vs Gloucestershire.
The Somerset side included four Winscombe members: J.K.Dunster, H.R.House,R.Weeks, H.Moor
1949
This picture is of the first game played on the new green in 1949.
This was after it was relaid following an infestation of ‘leatherjackets’. Mrs Bob Cooper sent down the first wood.
Her husband (in blazer) , was club captain. Mr R S Brewer was the president.
The opening of the new extension by Mr E.M Trevor President of the English Bowling Association
Five Winscombe members have held the position of County President
G.E.Attwood 1965, R.F.J.Tripp 1985, C.S.Westlake 1994, J.C.Bearman 1996, J.A.Lukins 2003
Only three other clubs in the county can match this achievement- Victoria, Bath, Clevedon,
(extracted from Honours Boards by John Blewitt)
Moving to More Recent History
2010
SOMERSET BOWLS ASSOCIATION
THE Properly Unified County Inaugural Meeting 14th November 2009 at Street BC
This meeting was attended by Club AND Ladies Secretaries
Mike Adams and Lorna Whatling.
A historic day ! The first time a lady from Winscombe BC has been able to vote at a Somerset County Meeting.
AGM Wednesday 24th February 2010
WBC now became a Unified Club in the “THE Properly Unified County”
Club Members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion to integrate Ladies into Full Membership of the Club . With effect from the start of our New Season (1st April 2010) Ladies will, for the first time, have full voting rights and the right to hold office on the Management Committee. The Ladies captain Helen Watson and the Ladies Secretary Lorna Whatling will be the first Ladies appointed to the Committee.
A historic meeting as this was the first time in the clubs 90 year history that ladies had been able to vote at this meeting . It was also agreed that at long last Pushers/Gatherers would be purchased to help members gather their woods after each end.
29th March 2010
First Unified Committee Meeting
The Ladies Captain Helen Watson and Ladies Secretary Lorna Whatling were welcomed onto the Management Committee by President John Baker who said that this was a Historic day for The Club. Lorna Whatling thanked him on behalf of the ladies and said they all looked forward to working with the men for the good of the club. John reminded the members that there was a Ladies Club in 1923 just 2 years after the club was formed but this did not continue.
2011
2010
L: R Lew Collier,Robin Lowman,Roger Knight,Ken Whatling,Lew Baldwin,Mike Adams.Andrew Watson,John Smith,Tony Dudley, Wild Ainsworth,Malcolm Hunter,Mike Hunt, Brian Paul,Mike Roberts, Paul Fredersdorff,Mike Nash,Tony Pye,John Baker
18th May 2011
Pushers/gatherers were used for the first time on this green in a National 2 rink mixed competition against Fosseway .
Winscombe lost the match by 5 shots but each team won on 1 rink. The Winscombe team was Mike Adams,Mike Roberts,I Tofte and Mavis Adams; Mike Nash,Ken Whatling,Sheila Nash and Jan Kimmins.
8th November 2011
A Special General Meeting voted unanimously with 3 abstentions to reorganise the Club to recognise the Club’s Mixed status.
From 24th November 2011, following the AGM, the club will consist of 4 sections:Men,Ladies,Estate and Social .
These sections will report to a Management Committee.
2012 - 90th Anniversary of Opening The Green
OVER 60's SUCCESS
2010 - 2023
Winscombe have an incredible record in The Weston & District Over 60’s League
2017
Lesley Fredersdorff - First Lady President
2018
2019
Back Row: Chrissie Bryant, Sheila Nash, Angela Ainsworth
Front Row: Carol Hopes, Eve Watts, Mavis Adams, Pauline Pow, Maureen Sprouting
Winscombe won their first match wearing their new shirts against Norwest! Winscombe won on 3 rinks and drew on the other to take the match by 33 shots.
The Team: back row: Euan Kindred, Peter Cast, Dave Brown, Roy Fisher, Mike Adams, Geoff Coombe, Mike Smart, Nick Hansford,Dave Johnson
front row: Mal Dorrington,Brian Paul, Paul Hopes, Mark Trenchard, Graham Neville, Wilf Ainsworth, Martyn Myland
2020 COVID
During 2020 this horrible virus swept the world and thousands of people were infected and dying.
The government introduced measures to protect the public and The NHS.
Eventually the Bowling Clubs were allowed to open but only for members and under very strict playing rules.
It’s was a difficult year – An under statement!!
But Thanks to Careful Management by our Committee we were able to enjoy playing our great game .
Our ‘pop up’ bar (Thanks Wilf Ainsworth) and
Fish n Chip suppers (Thanks Peta Burns) have brought some normality back to Friday Evenings !
We managed to set up some Competitions for members too!
Congratulations to The Winners of the various Competitions and also to you all who took part.
2021 - CENTENARY
Our Centenary Year 2021 and the virus is still with us!
A full Fixture List is being prepared with a number of ‘Special Matches’
including Bowls England, County Presidents and The Barbarians!
The Bowling Club Opened to members only on 17th April again under strict rules!
The government had set a 4 step pathway back to normality and a rapid vaccination programme.
They restrict the total number of players of organised games to 24 with no spectators.
Travel – There is currently no car sharing allowed!
Committee have decided to cancel all Friendly Matches until the 17th May.
For Roll Ups: YOU MUST book a rink .
CHARITY PAIRS on FRIDAYs – with Fish’n Chip Supper “
From the 17th May we hope that normal Fixtures will be possible!
MIKE ADAMS – OUR CENTENARY YEAR PRESIDENT
Opened the green with the first bowl of the season & raised ‘Our Centenary Flag’
1922 - Celebrating 100 years from when our green opened on 24th May 1922
Our first match was against Victoria BC so it was appropiate that we held two matches against our first opponents . Ladies (who didn’t play in 1922) played in the morning and Men in the afternoon. We all enjoyed a special lunch in the Pavilion.
Sponsor our Men’s Open Triples Tournament
Our Main Sponsors
Sponsor our Floodlit Tournament