Port of Bristol bowling club
CITY AND PORT OF BRISTOL BOWLING CLUB.
The club that was founded on June 10th 1970 and ran for 53 years, playing thousands of games of bowls in that time, played its very last game at Bristol Greenbank on Sunday September 24th.
Forced to close because of the very poor state of the green and resulting decline in numbers the club can look back with some satisfaction on some great and memorable times during its history.
Remarkably, in the mid-1980s it was necessary to cap membership at 120 —- specifically 80 men and 40 ladies. Compare that with the final season’s membership total of just 30, —- not all of those were active players and it is not hard to see why closure of the club was inevitable.
But — the final game was played, on four rinks at Bristol Greenbank and it was an enjoyable afternoon despite the understandable sadness brought about by the occasion. The hosts were very welcoming and fully appreciative of the situation.
Howard Surman was captain for the final game and together with host captain Graham Godfrey made sure that all fourteen City and Port Bowlers attending took part.
Bowling is a very social game, always ending with handshakes and an invitation to join your opponent for a drink and a chat once the woods have stopped rolling for the day.
Over the many years that the club has been running there have been many special events in addition to the regular programme of bowling from April until September each season.
There was a summer tour most seasons and also some very special days out.
In June 2009 there was a visit to play at Windsor Great Park where Parquets flew in the trees around the green and a succession of aeroplanes from Heathrow flew overhead. The bowling and the day out were both excellent and ended in the magnificent York Club for drinks and a well rehearsed rendition of the club song.
The following July saw a day out of a very different kind — it was to the seaside to bowl at Seaton — with a lunchtime visit to Sidmouth en-route. Wonderfully positioned overlooking the sea it is a very good green to play on and a very enjoyable afternoon was had by all.
A visit to the Royal Household Bowling Club is something that has to be applied for and there is always a wait for the invitation to go there. So — it was great when the invitation to visit in September 2013 was received. This was a very special occasion — bowling at the Royal Household, close to Windsor Castle and with the possibility that Her Majesty might come along for a look at the game —- it was understood that she did so on the odd occasion. It was a great and memorable day out — pouring tea from silver tea pots at the side of the green was very different. The Queen did not appear but it was all round a great and memorable day — even the drinks in the clubhouse were a little out of the ordinary.
Next up, in June 2016 was a visit to Caversham, near Reading to bowl on historic Fry Island in the middle of the River Thames. Reached by small boats, operated by the Island Bohemian Bowling Club who were wonderful hosts for the afternoons bowling, this is a unique venue and it was truly a special occasion. Bowling on six rinks and ending the afternoon with a meal in the clubhouse it was a day to remember. There was even a club song —- we are the bowlers of the island —- to round things off.
So good was it that City and Port returned two years later and enjoyed another wonderful afternoon surrounded by water.
The Island Bohemian Club does not play away from the island very often so it was an honour that they came to play in Shirehampton in September 2019. Lead by Guy Thorne they came and played as part of a club day out. It was great to see them again after two visits to their green and being so well looked after when going there.
In the next edition will be a look back at club summer tours that took place over many years and visited many places. There will also be a look back at some of the special groups of people including children who came to the green to bowl.
There was sad news at the end of September when the passing of long time member Ken McCullock was announced. Ken was for many years a keen bowler and skittler but has not been able to play in recent years. He will be remembered by long time and past members at the club.
If you have any special memories of the City and Port of Bristol Bowling Club please tell David Hinksman on 07932 387217.
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