Reading Bowling Club
FOUNDED 1803
The Reading Bowling Club was founded in 1803. The
first green was
behind, and belonged to, the Crown Hotel, a posting house in Crown
Street with land extending to the stables of the Red Cow public
house. The club was deprived of the use of the green when the site
was developed - principally by Huntley Boume and Stevens, the metal
box maker for the famous Biscuit Company Huntley and Palmers.
The club was able to acquire the present site at a rental of £15.00
per annum with an option to purchase, and was conveyed on the 26th
November 1892 for the sum of £675.00 with the granting of a mortgage
of £500.00. The site became available as a result of the Highgrove
estate, previously owned by the Blandy family, being acquired by Mr
Robert Toomer, a coal, coke and salt merchant of the town. The
remainder of the land was auctioned, in parcels, on the 18th October
1892.
Leading up to this decision a number of meetings were held to
explore possibilities. A meeting held on the 5th April 1892
resolved” that this meeting is of the opinion that the Highgrove
site offered us is in every way calculated to make a most desirable
green, but that the apathy displayed on the part of some of the
members, added to other difficulties in acquiring and preparing the
ground under the scheme, too impracticable to be entertained “.
However, three weeks later it was agreed to acquire this site and a
General Meeting held on the 9th May 1892 at the Upper Ship Hotel
resolved “ that play should begin at 3 p.m. on Monday the 16th May
1892, when a subscription of one guinea with eighteen guarantors
being liable (if necessary) for another half guinea”.
The first Captain of the new green was Mr W H Simmonds; President Mr
J Miller. A groundsman Mr S Clemenson, was engaged at seven
shillings and sixpence (£0.375 ) per week. The Secretary, Mr H
Wright, received an annual honorarium of three guineas.
In 1897 the green was re-laid at a cost of
£35.00.
In 1906 it was decided a new green be laid at a cost of £320.00, the
turf being obtained from Cumberland. On the 2nd May 1906 Dr W G
Grace brought a team of London bowlers for a match to celebrate the
opening of the new green, resulting in a win for Reading by two
shots, Reading 54 London County 52.
The Conference of Bowling Clubs, summoned by the Hon. Secretaries of
the Bounds Green and Brownswood Bowling Clubs, in accordance with
the instructions of the meeting of the 31st July 1895, was
ultimately held at Winchester House, Old Broad Street, London on the
17th October 1895. The proposed title ‘London and Home Counties
Bowling Association’ was rejected in favour of
"London
and Southern Counties Bowling Association".
Reading Bowling Club, was a founder member of this new Association
and was represented at the meeting by its Secretary, J Suddaby,
Captain T Mackrifl and H F Lindars. These three gentlemen undertook
the return trip to London by pony and trap. A rumour exists that
they tested many of the hostelries on route.
Reading Bowling Club also became a founder member of The Berkshire
County Bowling Association in 1910.
In 1958 a building was erected for the use of the ladies and four
years later ladies were admitted to the bar for the first time. In
1964 the ladies held their first meeting and the Women’s Section was
formed, and in 1965 became affiliated to the Berkshire County
Women's Bowling Association.
The women form a strong supportive section of the men’s game and the
two sections combined continue the on-going development of Reading
Bowling Club towards the year 2003, when the double century was
celebrated.
W.J. Stone, F.H. Thomas, L.G. Stone
Mike Newman, Graham Waldron, Adam Graves, Robert Newman
Robert Newman
Bernard Greenough, Robert Newman, Mike Newman
Reading Bowling Club "A" Team
Peter Oakley (President), Daren Holder, Peter Seaman, Steve Ruston,
Paul Bunting, Bill Wilson, Chris Hitt, Martin Friend, Peter Fraser,
Chris Barrett, BJ Byles, Craig Whiteley, Mike Newman, Bernie
Greenough, Robert Newman, John Byles, Duncan Wilkins, John Snook,
Vic Waite, Steve Broadley.