NOTES ON THE HISTORY

 OF

 SEVENOAKS BOWLING CLUB

1911 – 2001

  

Notes on the first ninety years of The Sevenoaks Bowling Club

Compiled by Roy Dickenson

 1911 - 2001

 THE BEGINNING

The earliest roots of the Sevenoaks Bowling Club go back to 1904, according to Mr W. Scothern, a Founder Member. In his address to the assembled company, on the occasion of the opening of a new six-rink bowling green, at Hollybush Lane Recreation Ground, on the 8^th May 1929, Mr Scothern recalled the start of the Club 25 years earlier.  He was, as far as he could ascertain, the only remaining Member, still with the Club, of those people who played on the lawn behind The Sennocke Hotel at Tubs Hill Station. (Later known as The Farmers-Demolished in 2008). The players who played on this bowling green called themselves Sevenoaks until the new club was founded in 1912, when those who continued to play at Tubs Hill became Sennocke.

 

References to a match played against Brasted, at the Sennocke Hotel, can be found in the Sevenoaks Chronicle for 1911, although match reports in the Local paper, prior to this date, were very rare. Sometime before the Second World War the bowling green at the Sennocke Hotel was converted to tennis courts, but these are no longer there – the area is now used as a beer garden.

 

FOUNDER MEMBER RECALLS THE SENNOCKE HOTEL

Mr Scothern, referred to earlier, also mentioned an amusing incident when he played at The Sennocke Hotel bowling green. He and his friends arrived at the green one day, only to find a donkey tethered in the middle of the green.  He also recalled that the game of bowls behind the Sennocke Hotel was played by candlelight at times.

 

TIME TO MOVE TO HOLLYBUSH LANE

In 1911, according to Mr Scothern, the players felt, that if they were to progress, it was time to break away from the licensed premises at The Sennocke Hotel and form a club. A meeting was held at The Lime Tree Hotel (Temperance Hotel), Lime Tree Walk, when it was decided to make a fresh start. The Sevenoaks Urban District Council had just taken over the Recreation Ground at Hollybush Lane and the club asked the Council to provide a new green inside this complex. Mr Frank Swanzy was appointed Club President and the Council duly provided a four- rink, bowling green. The small cricket pavilion, above the bowls green, was not in existence in 1911 but according to the Chronicle newspaper the Urban District Council invited designs from local architects. Presumably, the cricket pavilion was erected shortly after this, but it may not have been built until after the First World War.

It is interesting to note that when the Sevenoaks Bowling Club was formed and removed to Hollybush Lane, the green behind the Sennocke Hotel continued to be used by a Sennocke team and was still in use in 1919.

 

KENT COUNTY BOWLING ASSOCIATION – AFFILIATION 

Whilst it seems correct to say, that Sevenoaks Bowling Club was founded in 1911 it is quite clear that the club was not affiliated to the KCBA in that year. The inaugural meeting of the KCBA took place at the Angel Tonbridge on the 1^st March 1911 before Sevenoaks Bowling Club was formed.   Therefore, the KCBA was founded in 1911 but the Club records show that Sevenoaks B.C. did not affiliate to the County until 1912.  This was the year when the Club first played on the new four-rink green at Hollybush Lane.  The founder clubs are listed in the Centenary Handbook of both Forest Hill and Bromley bowling clubs and Sevenoaks is not mentioned.

 

FIRST YEAR AT HOLLYBUSH RECREATION GROUND

In the year 1912, the membership was quite small, but it was the early foundation, of better things to come, for, as recorded, Messrs. A. Fitt, W. Scothern, W.H. Chase and A. Simmonds won the Kent County Rink Championship in 1919.  It is also interesting to record that Arthur Fitt was selected to play for England, whilst serving with the Club.

In 1921, W.H.Chase reached the Final of the Kent Singles, only to be beaten by F.Granville, of Margate.

 

DELEGATE TO THE KCBA EXECUTIVE

Sevenoaks was first elected to the County Executive in 1920, and still held this Office, 80 years later, in the year 2001.

 

ORIGINAL PAVILION

The original Pavilion had a thatched roof of Norfolk Reed and was built in 1927-28, being an open-fronted barn like building, with walls and ceilings lined with cresoted matchboarding, with what can best be described as a horse box, at either end which were used as dressing rooms. The tearoom, kitchen and cupboard like bar, were at the rear of the building.  It was extremely hot inside during the summer. One of the Club’s members, Tom Marshall, was involved in building this pavilion in 1928 when he was working for a local building contractor by the name of Tye & Sons.

 

NEW SIX RINK GREEN

The Club continued to grow in size and the Council recognised the need for a full size green.  A new six–rink green was formed on the lower ground to the east of the Pavilion.  It was completed and officially opened by the Sevenoaks District Council in the presence of the Kent County Executive on the 8^th May 1929, the Club winning the first game by ten shots.  The then Hon. Secretary of Sevenoaks Bowling Club, Mr E.B.Jago, had the honour of opening the green on behalf of the Council, in his capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Sevenoaks Urban District Council. The Chairman of the Council was not available to undertake this civic duty.

 

In his address to the assembled company, Mr Jago, thought the Council, had two objects in view when it laid the green. Firstly, to provide a suitable green for playing bowls – the recreation of the ‘ old and infirm’ of the District and, secondly, as an asset and a credit to the town of Sevenoaks. Mr Jago next thanked the President of the County Association, Mr A.W.Randall, for coming, saying that it was the first time the President & Executive had honoured Sevenoaks with an official visit.  He hoped that, in the not too distant future, the Executive would consider the green suitable for one of the County matches. The greenkeepers at that time were Messrs Nevill & Gilham – who were applauded for their hard work on the green.

 

ALBERT SIMMONDS

An interested spectator on the day was Mr Albert Simmonds, President of the Sevenoaks Bowling Club and founder of the Simmonds Hospital Charity Cup (Triples).  He had travelled from the Isle of Wight to see the fulfilment of what had been a wish with him for 27 years – a Cumberland turf, full size bowling green in Sevenoaks.  Mr Simmonds presented the Hospital Charity Cup in 1928.  The Charity is still ongoing after 73 years and has allocated a considerable sum of money to the various local hospital charities during that time. The Competition is played in the form of knockout triples among players from neighbouring clubs in the Sevenoaks and District Area and is still very popular. The final was played at Sevenoaks for many years, until recently, when it was transferred to Holmesdale B. C.

 

COUNTY PRESIDENT NO. 1

In 1933 Mr E.B.Jago, who had been the secretary at Sevenoaks for the previous two seasons was elected President of the KCBA.

 

The achievements of the club in its early days were impressive and included the following: -

 

1927            Gill Cup Finalists, beaten by Faversham.

 

1932            County Rinks Quarter Finalists ( A.E.Fox, T.Zealey, E.C.House and W.J.Gypps.)

 

1932            Kent County Benevolent Triples Finalists ( A.E.Fox, E.C.House and W.J.Gypps )

                                                                                     Beaten by Margate.

1932            Kent played Hertfordshire at Sevenoaks and the Club entertained the County

 

1932     Hastings Open Tournament Rink Finalists ( A.E.Fox, T.Zealey, E.C.House and 

                                                                                      W.J.Gypps – Beaten by Kettering)

1933     Mr E.B.Jago became the President of the Kent County Bowling Association

             and led them in a match against Bedfordshire.

 

1935     Kent County Benevolent Triples Finalists ( J.Lorimer, T.B.Lawrence, and T.Pierce) Beaten by Deal B.C.

                                                                                   

1937           Kent Singles semi-finalist ( Percy Sinden )

 

SECOND WORLD WAR   

During the 1939-45 war years the Club continued to function.  The game of bowls went on as usual and was only briefly interrupted when a giant German bomber which crash – landed in close proximity to the green, during a Saturday night raid.  Fortunately, it caused very little damage to the recreation ground.  George Castle, one of the Sevenoaks bowlers, who was in the Local Constabulary, apparently escorted the three members of the crew to the Police Station. On another occasion, when German incendiary bombs landed on the green, without exploding, George was just in time to prevent Army personnel from digging unnecessarily large holes in the green to recover the bombs.

 

IMPROVEMENTS TO PAVILION

Once the War was over keen interest returned to the bowling club and the membership level was increased, but it was 1956 before any serious attempt was made to improve the facilities of the club.

 

The first project undertaken was to install Crittall Metal Windows and casement doors to the front of the pavilion.  This was proposed by Bob Horne, the club’s Treasurer and he had great difficulty in persuading the Committee to agree to spend money on the Council’s property.  It proved to be a turning point in the club’s history, being the forerunner of many such projects to improve the Pavilion and amenities over the ensuing years.  

 

BERT STONLEY - GREENKEEPER

In September 1958 the club was indeed fortunate when the Sevenoaks Urban District Council appointed Mr Bert Stonley as greenkeeper. Bert came to the club from Culverden Tunbridge Wells, having worked on greens in the Tunbridge Wells area for many years. He had built up a well-earned reputation and was an expert in green maintenance. He was also known to be an excellent bowler.

 

Up to that time the club had not had a specialist greenkeeper, and as a result many clubs, especially those in Tunbridge Wells, had better greens than Sevenoaks. In a very short space of time Bert Stonley improved the Sevenoaks green. In fact, by the start of the 1959 season the green was transformed. In the autumn of 1958 Bert top-dressed the green with fresh soil and ruled the whole of it with a straight edge, thus eliminating the many runs that the club had previously experienced. With his expert knowledge of feeding, forking, brushing with the whalebone brush etc. and putting in many hours of his own time, he laid the foundation of the excellent green that the club has enjoyed ever since. The Sevenoaks Bowling Club is greatly indebted to Bert Stonley.

 

LADIES SECTION

In 1958 after a great deal of deliberation and quite a lot of opposition, the club took the momentous decision to form a Ladies Section and immediately applied to the Council to re-use the old four rink green. Since the opening of the new six- rink green in 1929 the top green had been turned over to tennis courts. The original intention was for the ladies to play on the top green once it had been restored, leaving the men alone on the bottom green.

 

RE – INSTATING THE ORIGINAL FOUR RINK GREEN

The Council granted the application for reinstating the old green, but the intended segregation did not take place, as, by the time the green was ready, the ladies had won the full support of the men.

 

The restoration of the top green turned out to be a mammoth task for the Members. The tennis courts had been enclosed with wire mesh supported on 10ft high steel angle irons. The Council removed the wire mesh and cut off the stanchions with an oxy-acetylene torch, leaving the club with some 40 concrete bases, each weighing about 1cwt, to be excavated and removed, prior to filling in the holes with spoil from the excavation of the new ditches. Bert Stonley re-turfed the green and replaced the ditches and banks. When completed the top green turned out to be a good bowling surface and the men were just as pleased as the ladies to have the use of it.

 

Sevenoaks is the only bowling club in this part of Kent to sport two greens. The members were very fortunate to be blessed with this good facility in such beautiful surroundings.

 

ACCESS TO THE TOP GREEN

Up to 1958 the only approach to the top green was via. a flight of wooden steps some 3 feet wide. These were quite dangerous, particularly for older members.  In fact one visiting bowler fell down the steps and had to be taken to Hospital for treatment.

The original fence which ran along the north side of the greens was very close to the Pavilion and Bert Stonley, with the permission of the Council, extended the boundary, to its present position, to allow access to the top green, via. a gently, rising footpath, on the north side. Bert’s son Tony built the brick steps on the south side of the Pavilion at a later date, to provide an improved access to the top green. 

 

Bert Stonley planted the new hedges on the east side of the new green, and those next to the access from Holmesdale Road, on the north side,, where a small parking area was formed for the use of some of the more senior officers, like Ray Oake, the then secretary, and for deliveries to the Club.

 

DRAINAGE

Up until 1959, the ladies had had to use the Public Toilets below the cricket pavilion. This was rather impractical, if not embarrassing, especially for the tea ladies. Permission was, therefore, obtained from the Council to install a concrete ringed cesspool and to lay a drain to the rear of the pavilion to construct a toilet, with access directly from the pavilion.   At the same time the Men’ Urinal was connected to the cesspool. This was an open top affair about 6 ft x 4 ft – surrounded on three sides by corrugated iron 5 ft high and enclosed by a small copse of trees.  It was positioned about 10 ft away from the South side of the pavilion and originally discharged into a soakaway.  Special mention is due to Reg Payne who played a major part in this project, along with some of the other members.  

 

ALTERATIONS TO PAVILION

During 1959 – 60 permission was obtained from the Council, to a plan of alterations to the pavilion, drawn up by Percy Sinden. A number of the members then spent the Winter months working on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings completely gutting and reconstructing the inside of the pavilion.  Ted Cordery excelled in this project, especially in the decoration and the club showed its appreciation by making him an Honorary Vice President for Life. Stanley Berwick a much respected local builder and his Office Manager, Don Reader, supplied building materials as and when they were needed and all the Members involved derived a great deal of pleasure in their achievements. News of the improvements quickly spread across the County and coupled with the much-improved greens, thanks to Bert Stonley, the club’s facilities were much admired by visitors from other clubs.

 

These improvements were very much instrumental in Sevenoaks being asked by the Kent County Bowling Association to host the County Finals in 1961 – 65 – 69 – 73 – 77. Unfortunately, the drought in 1976 spoiled the green to such an extent that it had not recovered sufficiently for the club to stage the 1977 Finals. 

 

HONOURS BOARDS

To commemorate these efforts Mr Archie Rainey, who was President of the club between 1964 – 67, presented the club its the magnificent Honour Boards in 1961, which have been much admired by many visiting clubs.  The records go back to 1911. It took a Sub – Committee several months to compile the evidence, much of which was obtained by trawling through back copies of The Sevenoaks Chronicle, with the valued assistance of the Chronicle’s staff. Mr Rainey also presented the Ladies Honour Board in 1962.  Both boards were beautifully constructed in oak, in the workshops of Stanley Berwick.

In the Sevenoaks Bowling Club’s Golden Jubilee Handbook Bill Gypps made it quite clear that the club did not affiliate to the Kent County Bowling Association until 1912, yet the Honours Board presented by Archie Rainey, in 1961, shows the affiliation date as 1911. It is difficult to understand how this anomaly occurred, but the date on the Honours Board is incorrect! 

 

ELECTRIC LIGHTING

When the Pavilion was constructed in 1927 it had gas lighting and the Club had to wait until 1963 before electric lighting could be installed.  Alas, the nearest electric main was in Hollybush Lane, well over 100 yards away. However, after much corresponding with the Council and Seeboard it was agreed to lay a new supply along the footpath by Walthamstow Hall School and the cricket ground.  This was to serve two new electric streetlights and the cricket pavilion, as well as the bowling club pavilion. The Club shared the cost with Sevenoaks Urban Council.  The cost to the Club was £110 but on top of this the Club had to fund the cost of wiring the pavilion.

 

Some further honours leading up to the Golden Jubilee in 1961 include the following:-

 

1957          Maidstone Triples Finalists ( M.E. Taylor, H. Stonley & R. Outram)

 

1960          Kent County Rink, Quarter Finals ( H. Palmer, P. Sinden, R. Watson & E. Wigmore)

                                                                                                                               

Middleton Cup Representatives: 1934, W.J. Gypps; 1957, R. Outram, 1960, P. Sinden

 

GOLDEN JUBILEE 1911 - 1961

In the club’s Jubilee Year (1961) It was represented by a Committee consisting of President S.V. Berwick, Vice President W.H. Miller, Hon. Secretary E.H.Sharp. Hon. Asst. Secretary M.E. Taylor, Hon. Treasurer A.F. Ames (Brother of the famous Kent & England cricketer Leslie Ames), Hon. Match Secretary R.E.Outram, Captain E.Reeves (General Foreman for Stanley Berwick), Vice Captains R.E. Outram & C.Smith)

KCBA Representative W.J.Gypps, Committee R.C.Chapman, E.Cordery, E.Goodman, B.Nye, & T.O.Marshall.

 

The Ladies Section was represented by President Mrs V.Jarvis, Hon. Secretary Miss E.M. Warwick, Hon. Treasurer Mrs K.Osborne, Captain Mrs B.Powell & Hon. Match Secretary and Vice Captain Mrs O.Green.

 

The club had a very full fixture list for both Men & Ladies and hosted the KCBA Finals as well as number of special events in order to celebrate its Jubilee.

 

ENLARGING THE TOP GREEN TO SIX RINKS

As mentioned earlier, the Club had re – acquired the use of the top green, which had by 1960, been licked into good condition by Bert Stonley.  However, the Membership was growing fast and it was decided that the Club should have two six rink greens. Permission was granted by the Council to extend the top green by 36 feet. This entailed digging into the bank at the far end, towards the cricket pavilion and required the excavation of some 900 cubic yards of soil.

 

This was a formidable task for a handful of keen club members to undertake and was executed on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the winter of 1960 – 61.  By Good Friday the banking had been successfully cut away leaving another 12 inches to be removed to allow for the thickness of the clinker, topsoil and turf.  The club borrowed a JCB digger, driven by Reg Payne and a lorry from Stanley Berwick and removed the remainder in one day.  One of the most popular members was apparently, Norman Miller. He had only just become a member and although he always arrived dressed in an immaculate suit and white shirt he worked wonders with a pick and shovel and was a constant source of inspiration to all the others.

 

NEW CHANGING ROOMS

The next item on the agenda was the provision of new changing rooms. Up to this time the home members had had to arrive early, to get changed and, be out of the changing room 20 minutes before the visitors arrived.  They would then have to hang around afterwards until the visitors had departed from the changing room. The ladies also used this changing room on their match days.

 

In 1962 plans were drawn up by Tom Marshall (Clerk of Works at Sevenoaks urban District Council) and permission was obtained from the Council to build a Halls type timber building on a concrete and brick foundation. An estimate was received from Stanley Berwick Ltd for the erection of the building, including lining the walls and ceilings. This left the internal work to be done by the Members. The building was completed in a comparatively short time and the money was raised in three years to cover the expense.

 

NEW SCORE BOARD

Prior to 1961 the Club had a small score board; some 4ft x 3ft, on the South side of the green (next to the Putting Green) and the names and scores were marked in chalk. This was not very practical, as it could not be read from a distance.  It was decided to have one similar to that at Aylesford Paper Mills. Percy Sinden drew the plans that were approved by the Council. Stanley Berwick donated the materials and it was built by a few of Members.  John Crouch, who was a carpenter with Berwick's, was mainly responsible for constructing the oak framework, whilst Eric Reeves built the brick panels. In those days adhesive letters were applied with water but in later years these were changed to magnetic letters. These could be read fairly easily from the far side of the green.  The rink – end number plates were purchased the following year.

 

ROY KING & THE SUN LOUNGE

In 1964, a member by the name of Roy King presented the club with a cheque for the sum of £400 to build a sun lounge onto the front of the pavilion.  He and his wife made this gesture in appreciation of the welcome they had received, at Sevenoaks, and the happy times they had enjoyed there.  Roy & his wife eventually retired to Eastbourne and joined the Saffrons Bowling Club, where they made a similar gesture to that club. When he passed away Roy also left a legacy to the Sevenoaks Club of £1000.

 

Roy King’s suggestion was to leave the entrance doors in line with the existing wood pillars and to push forward on each side of the entrance with two bays but after due consideration it was agreed to move the entrance doors forward in a straight line. The overall cost was £625, the Club funding the balance.

 

GAZEBO FOR TOP GREEN

Mrs Vi Jarvis was elected President of the Kent County Women’s Bowling Association in 1966. This was indeed a great honour for a Club of 8 years, and the Ladies Section purchased a gazebo (summerhouse) to commemorate the event. The Members erected the gazebo on the top green and the ladies did the decorating. Little did they know that it would be blown down onto the bottom green during the Hurricane in 1987. It was replaced soon after but disappeared altogether when the Indoor Club was constructed in 1990. Nevertheless, it served a useful purpose for many years and was particularly appreciated by the bowlers in the Saturday afternoon drives.

 

COPPER WEATHER VANE

Eric Paterson (a local plumber) who was a Member for a short time, until he died, presented the Club with a Copper Weather Vane in 1968. It was pure copper and quite valuable at the time it was fixed to the pavilion roof. It lasted for thirty years before being overhauled, in the late 1990’s, by another stalwart member by the name of John Dawes. Unfortunately, it was removed by vandals in 2000 and had to be restored again by the indefatigable John Dawes.

 

THE FIRE

The thatched roof of the bowls pavilion was a feature of the building when it was built in 1929, but in 1967 it was beginning to look as if it was coming to the end of its useful life. The club was starting to wonder what was to be done about its condition.  The answer came in a rather unexpected manner. On the 4^th July 1967 a Lt Commander Gothard was walking his dog through the recreation ground at 11.30 pm when he noticed smoke issuing from the pavilion roof, the thatched roof of which had been set alight by vandals. He promptly called the Fire Brigade before climbing on the roof himself to pull away the burning reeds.  The firemen saved the building by removing all the thatch, leaving the pavilion roofless. Although several of the rafters were badly burned, tarpaulins were quickly placed in position to protect the remainder of the building.

 

It was not long before a new tiled roof, consisting of brown interlocking pantiles, was put in position to replace the old thatch roof. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise and the Club showed its gratitude to Lt Commander Gothard and his wife by inviting them to a bowls match and thanking the Commander Gothard for his prompt action, which surely saved the remainder of the pavilion and the changing rooms.

 

It is interesting to note that a similar thatched roof pavilion at Hastings, on the White Rock Greens was burned to the ground at about the same time.  Unfortunately, many of the bowlers lost their bowls equipment on this occasion.

 

THE FLOODS IN 1968

A further tragedy struck the club in September 1968 when severe local flooding caused the retaining wall and part of the top green, behind the pavilion, to subside – causing tons of soil and rock to be pushed up against the pavilion.  Once again Bert Stonley, with the aid of his son Tony and a few other members removed all the debris and constructed a fine retaining wall surmounted by a new hedge,

 

COAT HANGERS ON BOTTOM GREEN

In passing, it should be mentioned that the mild steel, ornamental coat hangers which are stationed around the bottom green, were made at Terry’s Forge (Old Post Office Yard) by the proprietor, Bill Pierce, and purchased by the club.

 

MEMBERSHIP PROGRESS

Throughout this period the membership of both the Men and Ladies Sections grew steadily and reached 100 men and 50 ladies.

 

TRIBUTE TO NORMAN MILLER

Eric Reeves, who compiled much of the information contained in this History of Sevenoaks Bowling Club, in his document called ‘One Man’s Memories Over The Last 67 Years’, paid a special tribute to one of the club’s outstanding members. He said, ‘that no History of Sevenoaks Bowling Club would be complete without mention of Norman Miller. A member whose good sportsmanship, understanding of men and his desire to serve the club and its members made him an unforgettable person.  From the moment he joined the club it was obvious that he was a leader of men.  It was a pleasure to be in his company and he soon gained the highest regard of all the Members.  In 1963 he was elected vice – captain and was club captain in 1964 – 65.  He never attained great success as a bowler, but was honoured by the club when he was nominated to play for Kent against the South African Tourists in 1964. Norman became one of the few unbadged players to play for Kent. The South Africans presented him with a silver Springbok.’

The County had deliberately chosen the Sevenoaks green in order that the South Africans could see the garden of England.

 

Norman Miller’s death in 1965 was a bitter blow to the club. His wife, Dorrie Miller presented the club with a set of tables and chairs in his memory. Dorrie Miller also presented the Miller Cup to the Ladies Section.

 

 Many honours were won during this time in the County, Sevenoaks League, Simmonds Cup, Tunbridge Wells Tournament, Meritt Cup, Maidstone Triples etc.  The outstanding ones are listed below.

 

1961          Percy Sinden won the KCBA Singles Championship.

 

1961          A. Shaxted, R. Chapman & J. Crouch won their County Badges.

 

1963          Tony Stonley won the KCBA Singles Championship

 

1963          Mesdames M. Hann, E. Cooper, B. Holness, & K. Osborne KCWBA Fours

                                                                                                                        Championship.

1963          E. Reeves won his County Badge.

 

1964          J. Crouch, E.(Ted) Sharp, & J. Marshall won the Tunbridge Wells Open

                                                                                                                                    Triples

1969          Mesdames M. Hann, S. Baker, & W. Aldridge were finalists in the KCWBA 

                                                                                                Benevolent Championship

1972          E. Wilkins (Maude Wood Winner)

 

1973          W. Aldridge, P. Bolam, E. Pearson & K. Osbourne (R.U. KCWBA Fours)

 

1973          E. Wilkins (Maude Wood R.U.)

 

1975          E. Wilkins (R.U. KCWBA  Singles)

         

1975          D. Banfield, J. Crouch, W. Aldridge & T. Adams Kent County Fours Finalists.

 

1976-77     D. Banfield played in the Middleton Cup.

 

1977          B. J. Burt & Mac Roxburgh KCBA Pairs Quarter Finalists.

 

Also during this time Sevenoaks B. C. hosted the following prestigious games.

 

1962          Kent County Bowling Association  v  Hertfordshire B. A.

1964          Kent County Bowling Association  v  South African Tourists.

 

1966          Kent County Bowling Association  v  Middlesex.

 

1970           Middleton Cup Trials  &  KCBA v Northants B. A.

 

1970           Kent county B. A.  v  Middlesex (Middleton Cup).

 

1963           Sevenoaks B. C.  v  Hampshire Tourists.

 

1968           Sevenoaks B. C.  v  Northumberland Tourists.

 

1971           Sevenoaks B. C.  v English Bowling Association Tourists.

 

LADIES SECTION

When the Ladies Section was formed in 1958 by a nucleus of ladies from the Townswomen’s Guild, there were only a few ladies who knew anything about the game of bowls, so it took a while for them to build up a membership. They started with 13 members, and as the amenities improved, the numbers were increased from 35 to 40 and then 50 in 1970.  At the end of the first year they had £3.75 in the account and 14 Members.  At the end of the 1970 season the membership stood at 50 with £200 in the ladies account.

 

During this time the ladies donated various sums towards improving the buildings and to kitchen equipment.  In 1960 further improvements were provided for the ladies in the form of changing room lockers and toilets. The ladies fixtures were included with the men’s lists.

 

The ladies played one match during their first year, against Holmesdale Bowling Club.  In their second year they tried their luck in the County Competitions, but it was not until 1963 that they registered their first success. A fours team consisting of Mesdames M. Hann, E. Cooper, B. Holness and K. Osbourne won the Kent County Final!  From then onwards, as far as the County Association was concerned, the Sevenoaks Ladies had arrived. They began to get requests from the County for the use of the green for County Matches and other County events. The ladies had one team in the Benevolent Triples in 1962 and again in 1964. In 1969 Mesdames M. Hann, G. Baker and W. Aldridge reached the Final.

 

 DIAMOND JUBILEE

Sevenoaks Bowling Club also celebrated its Diamond Jubilee 1911 – 1971 and ran a similar programme to that ten years earlier for the Golden Jubilee. The Officers of the club in 1971 were as follows:- President Frank Ames (Senior Vice –President KCBA), Vice – President Terry Jordan, Hon. Secretary Eric Reeves, Hon.Asst. Secretary Don Reader, Hon. Treasurer Ted Sharp, Hon. Match Secretary Reg Payne, Captain Bert Grimwood, Vice Captains Wally Cooper & Ted Cordery, Trustees Archie Rainey & Stanley Berwick, KCBA Representative Bert Grimwood. Committee Members were Bill Aldridge, George Else, Tom Marshall, Ted Hann, Bert Stonley and Ray Oake. The Jubilee Committee comprised of Ray Oake, Eric Reeves, Reg Payne, & Mesdames E. Cooper & D. Miller.

 

COUNTY PRESIDENT NO. 2

Sevenoaks Bowling Club was highly honoured in 1969 when the President, Frank Ames was elected Junior Vice President of the Kent County Bowling Association. He was the club’s second County President and held the office of President in 1971 – 72.  E. B. Jago was the first County President for Sevenoaks in 1933. Frank Ames was a very popular President and served the County well during his term of office. Afterwards, he continued to support the County in various capacities and remained a stalwart member of both club and County. The club members, in honour of his achievements, erected a clock on the front of the pavilion.

 

In 1976 the club was honoured once more when Bernard J. Burt was elected as the Editor of the County Handbook and press representative.  He relinquished the post of Editor at the beginning of the 1978 but not before he had made his mark by giving the yearbook a completely new image, which received acclaim throughout the County.

 

THE GREAT DROUGHT OF 1976

The previous year (1975) had been an extremely dry one and was followed by minimal rainfall during the winter. By the end of April 1976 the whole country was suffering from the most serious drought in living memory and there was little rainfall before September.  By the beginning of the month of May the Local Authority had placed a ban on the use of hosepipes and the greens soon started to suffer. Gradually the greens turned from green to brown to yellow and started to look bare. It was a sickening sight. After all the hard work by the Greenkeeper it was tragic to see the greens deteriorate. At the time the Members did not believe the greens would ever recover.

 

In 1977 the Council appointed a new Greenkeeper, by the name of Bob Clarke, and this proved to be a blessing to the club. He tackled the almost impossible task of restoring the greens, with great enthusiasm. Up to the middle of July 1977 the bottom green was only used for matches and competitions, all other games being played on the top green. The County Finals were to be played at Sevenoaks in August but it became obvious that the green had not recovered sufficiently and the County was notified to this effect.  The Finals were played at The Grove (Tunbridge Wells) that year.

 

By May 1978 the greens were once again in peak condition and the club expressed its grateful thanks to the Council and the Greenkeeper, Bob Clarke who had done a tremendous job.

 

 

 

LONG SERVING MEMBERS

The History of the Sevenoaks Bowling Club would not be complete without mention of Bill Gypps (Public Health Inspector with SUDC). He played his first game in 1923 and was still playing in 1978. He was also the first winning skip of the Simmonds Cup, which began in 1928. One only has to look at the Honours Board to see some of his achievements. In particular, he was President of the club from 1964 – 1967 and Hon. Secretary for 17 years. He was also County representative for 21 years.

 

George Castle was a Member of the club for well over 40 and was still playing in the 1980’s. Whilst George served on the Committee for many years, his most outstanding contribution was that he provided flowers for the dining tables for most of his time with the club and was fondly remembered by all those players who had the pleasure of knowing him. George Castle, who always wore a buttonhole himself and used to grow his own flowers, had a distinguished career in the Police Force after retiring from the Army. He was also a canny bowler who will also be affectionally remembered for prematurely kicking the bowls out of the head before his opponents had a chance to check the shots themselves. He was also a winner of the Simmonds Cup.

 

PASSING TRIBUTE TO SEVENOAKS

Eric Reeves, who should also be remembered for his contribution to the club including his record of the club’s history called “One Man’s Memories Over 67 Years” which has been included in these pages. Eric Reeves recalls the words spoken by an Immediate Past President of the English Bowling Association, when he spoke at Sevenoaks during the tea interval as President of the Hampshire Touring Team.

 

‘I have played bowls on many greens in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales but when I look at your lovely green and your marvellous facilities and survey this panoramic view of THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND I think this is the best!’

 

Eric Reeves, who was a General Foreman for Stanley Berwick Ltd, joined the club in 1951 and did yeoman service. He was Secretary for 12 years and was heavily involved with the alterations and improvements to the club.  His hard work was rewarded in 1975 when he was elected President of the club, a post he held for two years.

 

BIRTH OF THE SEVENOAKS & DISTRICT MENS TRIPLES BOWLS LEAGUE.

George Else, another stalwart member of Sevenoaks Bowling Club, recalls, that he happened to be sitting next to Tom Marshall on a coach trip to a seaside bowls match in 1967 when the idea of the Sevenoaks & District League was conceived.  Tom wrote to all the local clubs and arranged the inaugural meeting. From that enthusiastic gathering, of five clubs, the now thriving league was born on the 30^th March 1968. The league began in that year with six teams. They were Borough Green, Holmesdale, Sundridge, Westerham and Sevenoaks who provided two teams (A & B). By the year 2001 the league had grown to 40 teams from 13 clubs arranged in five divisions with Sevenoaks providing six teams. Tom was the first Chairman of the league and George Else the first Secretary, a post he was to hold until 1995(28 years). He was also the Treasurer for the first ten years.

 

Between 1968 and 1989 Sevenoaks won the Sevenoaks Triples League on five occasions.  They then went on to win nine titles between 1990 to 1999, missing out in 1994..  The league was an exceptionally popular competition among the players. They looked forward to a competitive game of bowls, on a Friday evening, followed by a bread and cheese supper – some teams were criticised for making the suppers, unnecessarily lavish, at times, but it was generally accepted that this was a matter for the individual teams.  Even so a great deal of pleasure was derived from the league.  At its peak, Sevenoaks, with its six teams, fielded no less than 36 players, on a league night. In 2001 this trend began to reverse when Sevenoaks reduced its league teams to five, due to a sharp drop in membership.

 

THURSDAY LEAGUE

The popularity of the Friday night league soon rubbed off onto the other members, including the ladies, and a Thursday Night Triples League (Mixed) was started within the club.  This event is extremely popular among the members and has been running for many years.  So much so that some of the Friday bowlers get in on the act as well. The latest idea is to have a fish & chips supper after the game.

 

COMPETITIVE BOWLING

There has always been competitive bowling but the last quarter of the Millennium has seen a large increase in this phenomenon.  In the early days the players joined in the Simmonds Hospital Cup and arranged extra competition by going to the annual tournaments at Hastings, Tunbridge Wells, or Maidstone.  In the winter they would look to indoor bowling at Crystal Palace, Chatham or Stone Lodge, where league bowling was played. As time went on the indoor bowls came closer with the new centres at Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Sevenoaks. All of these were running competitive leagues and competitions, as well as inter-club and county competitions.

Outdoors there has been a marked increase in the level of competitive bowling such as Holmesdale Pairs, Sundridge Singles, and Sunday morning triples at Bromley and Gravesend.  Add to this all the County Competitions, The Natwest DoubleFours, Bert Cox Cup, Molly Cleggett, Travelsphere and The Belle Trophy and one begins to wonder how it is possible to find time for the “bread and butter of club bowling” on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday afternoon friendlies against other clubs.  This is increase is clearly the major reason for the difficulties experienced in raising teams for friendly matches.

Some clubs are finding salvation in playing mixed bowls, on a regular basis but the increase in this desire to play competitive bowls could lead to the breakdown of outdoor bowling clubs, in the face of a falling membership and rising costs of green maintenance.

 

ANNUAL DINNERS

The annual dinners have formed an integral part of the club’s social calendar. It is not known how far back one must go, for the first event of this kind, without searching through the club’s records, but it has been a regular feature for the last 25 years of the Millennium.  No doubt it was held in the Hollybush Lane on some occasions but latterly venues have included The Spinning Wheel (Westerham), Wildernesse Golf Club, Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club, Sevenoaks Community Centre, Hilden Manor (Hildenborough) and, for the past 10 years, Chipstead Sailing Club.  The reason for the prolonged stay at Chipstead speaks for itself.  It has proved to be an excellent venue for the annual dinner, which normally takes place at the beginning of December.  At this time of the year the Sailing Club will have decorated the dining room and bar, ready for the Christmas festivities and the bowlers enjoy the benefit of the décor.

This is not to say that, they have nothing to do, in arranging these events. As with all such gatherings, someone has to organise the dinners and the club is greatly indebted to Ray & Babs Oake, Bernard & Margaret Burt, Brian & Gillian Evans and latterly Alan & Rita Doree, who have been mainly responsible for this work for over 25 years. Of course, they could not do this on their own and have been supported bands of stalwart members each year, to do the donkey work, plus all those people who were appointed to the Dinner Committees, during that time.

One of the pleasing features of these dinners is that the club invites the newly elected County Presidents and their partners form the KCBA & KCWBA, the Annual General Meetings of these Associations being held in November. The Sevenoaks Dinner is often the first of their official functions and they are given a good send-off on their respective presidential trails.  After the dinner they are usually invited to present the club’s tournament trophies to the successful bowlers.

 

 

CLUB TEAS

A history of the bowling club would not be complete without reference to the part played by the ladies of the club, who have given so generously of their time, in preparing lunches, teas, snacks etc., over the last 90 years.  Without doubt, the social side of the game, in which the meals played a large part, has proved to be equally as important as the game itself and it would not have been possible without the magnificent input of the ladies. A good example of this effort was well demonstrated at the Invitation Days.  On these occasions the ladies would arrange lunch and tea in two sittings, with no fewer than 120 men at each sitting, all without the least complaint. In those balmy days the ladies would not let the men anywhere near the kitchen, how things have changed.

Naturally, as the ladies became more interested in their bowling there had to be some adjustments to facilitate their needs. For example, the mid-game tea, in the men’s matches, was abandoned in favour of teas after the games and to save the ladies staying on to do the washing up, as they had always done, the men agreed to take it on themselves, after the match.  There was little hesitation in accepting this arrangement, since the ladies were quite willing to stop doing the teas altogether. Thanks to them, however, the club has avoided the need to resort to outside caterers for 90 years. Whilst congratulating the ladies one should not forget that some of the men made a valuable contribution to the club catering, such as Ray Oake, David Cheeseman & Brian Jolley. Some of the names of the ladies, who spring to mind in this field, over the past twenty years, include Cecily Pateman, Doris Melsom, Margaret Hollands, Enid Foreman, Peggy Mitchell, Annie Houghton et al.

 

CHANGING FORTUNES

By 1981 there was something of a sea change at Sevenoaks Bowling Club, there was no shortage of club spirit, but the average age of the members had risen considerably. The membership had also fallen to its lowest level for over ten years (131). The halcyon days of taking coach trips to the South Coast and, making a day of it, were gone for good and the piano that had hitherto provided an accompaniment to the clubhouse entertainment, after the matches was a thing of the past. Many of the old members had fond memories of the Woolwich Polytechnic matches that took place on the first and last day of the season. This fixture continued into the 1980’s but without the piano and visitors were no longer required to drink the bar dry after the last match of the season, before going home. It is said that these events often went on to the early hours of the morning.

 

The early 1980’s saw a quiet period in the club’s development. In the middle of the decade, a few improvements were carried out to the club facilities. The cesspool drainage system had a disconcerting habit of overflowing at inopportune moments and had to be replaced with a main drainage connection into Holmesdale Road. Before this was achieved, however, Roy Dickenson had to write numerous letters to the Council, on behalf of the club, before the Council would move in the matter.

 

The Club’s bar was modified by Roy Dickenson and John Crouch to improve the stock area and glass washing arrangements and Bernard Burt, John Crouch & Roy Dickenson replaced all the kitchen units which had become obsolete. The bar at this time was between the kitchen and visitors dressing room.

 

The pavilion was not used, as a rule, during the winter months, apart from the Annual General Meeting, but Babs Oake, wife of Secretary Ray Oake, used to arrange watercolour painting sessions on a Wednesday morning. These were very popular among the members. Ray & Babbs Oake used to organise the Saturday afternoon drive and did so for many years.  When they eventually gave this up it was taken over by Maurice Murch and his wife Joan. These two couples played a most important role in the life of Sevenoaks Bowling Club for over 20 years.  The drives were much appreciated, especially by new members and those who were unable or not yet ready to play in the matches.

 

WEST KENT LADIES BOWLS LEAGUE

In 1980, George Else assisted Margaret Burt to start up a triples league for the ladies and eight local bowls clubs entered two triples, one of which played in the “A” Division, while the other participated in the “B” Division.

 

Margaret Burt‘s team was the first winner of the “A” Division in 1980. The fourteen-week season culminates on the first Monday in September with a Grand Finals Day, when the top team of Division “A” plays the top team of Division “B” to produce the champions for the year. At the same time, the second placed team in each Division plays – off for the third/fourth places.  This league is still thriving 21 years later. The Sevenoaks Ladies have been among the top four teams on numerous occasions.

 

KCWBA PRESIDENTS

In 1981 Mrs Nellie Costelloe became President of the KCWBA and ten years later the Club was honoured to provide another President of the KCWBA in the form of Mrs Barbara Croucher, who was the third lady to represent the club in this capacity.  Mrs Vi Jarvis was the first of the County Presidents from Sevenoaks.

 

Mrs Eve Tucker’s contribution to the KCWBA as Hon. Competition Secretary, over many years, should also be recorded.

 

 

LAST DECADE OF THE MILLENNIUM

The last decade of the Millennium must be considered one of the most successful periods in the history of the club. There had been a gradual increase in the membership during the 1980’s culminating in a record number of 200 members (120 men & 80 ladies) by 1991.  This was largely brought about by the introduction of a new eight rink indoor bowling centre, adjacent to the outdoor greens. Many of the 1200 indoor members joined the outdoor club. Among them were some 20 men who were members of Probus, an organisation for retired professionals and businessmen.

The membership may well have exceeded 200 but for the Committee taking the decision to cap the numbers owing to the lack of adequate changing room facilities.

 

 

OUTSTANDING PLAYERS

Over the last twenty five years of the Millennium the club was blessed with many first class bowlers, who together with all the average bowlers, have contributed greatly in establishing Sevenoaks as one of the leading clubs in Kent and one of the strongest in the Sevenoaks district.  Both men and ladies have always been well represented in the local competitions, such as the Simmonds Hospital Charity Cup, Sundridge Singles and the Holmesdale Pairs in addition to their commitments to their club and county.

In the club’s Men’s Singles Championship David Banfield won on six occasions, Wayne Cheeseman (3), David Slater (2), John Fenner (2), David Cheeseman (2) David Henning (2) and Bert Stonley, Bernard Burt, Mac Roxburgh, Roger Richfield, John Atkins, David Staples, Allan Chase and Jason Winter once each.

 

Eve Tucker won the Ladies singles Championship on six occasions, Edith Pearson (3),

Valerie Staples (3), Claire Jolley (2), and E. Wilkins, T. Daniels, Sylvia Gill, G. Robertson, Jessie Parish, Margaret Burt, Phil Smith and Jan Nash once each.

 

Few would disagree, with the choice of David Banfield (Mighty Mouse) as the most outstanding bowler in the Men’s Section during this period.  David is arguably the best bowler, certainly the most successful one, in the club’s history. Apart from playing for Kent County Bowling Association in the Middleton Cup for over 20 years, during which time David was in the winning county in 1987, 1991 & 1993, he has represented Kent both indoors and outdoors in county matches and competitions on a great many occasions. He was President of the KCIBA in 1989 and became a KCBA Selector after managing the KCBA Under 25 team.

David Banfield has played in the Sevenoaks Triples League ever since it began in 1968 and must be considered to be the most successful bowler to play in the league.  He has been the driving force behind the successes in the league enjoyed by both Sevenoaks and Borough Green, where he was a member from 1980 to 1986, during which time; Borough Green won the league on five occasions. David was undoubtedly involved in all of 14 occasions that Sevenoaks won the league, having a string of consecutive wins between 1990 and 1999, only losing in 1994. In addition to this Sevenoaks is the only club in the league to win both the First Division Championship and the Marshall Cup in the same year in 1992 & 1993. Sevenoaks completed a hat trick of wins by securing the Marshall Cup in 1994.

 

Of course, David did not achieve all this success on his own. He was ably supported by some of the club’s best bowlers, such as, David Cheeseman and his son Wayne who played England Under 25’s in 1994-5-6-7 and Middleton Cup despite being troubled badly by a faulty hip, in his early days. Then there was Chris Winter and his son Jason, another successful Kent Middleton Cup & England Under 25’s bowler – David Henning who won the County Two-Wood Competition and played Middleton Cup. In addition there was Tony Morgan, Michael Chapman, Johnny Johnstone, Bill Jones, Allan Chase, John McCarthy, Tony Griffiths, Clive Letherby (David’s son-in-law) and several others.

 

APPORTIONMENT OF DUTIES

In 1990 Roy Dickenson developed a new idea for apportioning duties on club match days, in order to get all playing members involved and to avoid complaints from the faithful few that they were the only people making a contribution. In its simplest form it consisted of four teams of six people. The first of these would be responsible for putting out the mats, jacks, scoreboard and flag before the game and clearing away afterwards, the second set up the tables and chairs for the meal and cleared away afterwards, including hoovering the pavilion floor, the third were responsible for the bar working and the fourth did the washing up. The duties were alternated for each match and if one was lucky one avoided doing the same duty twice running.

 

The system worked very efficiently since it was self-policing to some extent and tended to be over-manned. It has proved to be a successful system for over ten years, although it has been modified, in the light of experience by other captains such as Michael Chapman and Eric Mitchell. The biggest drawback has been the insistence of members, on house duty, to carry out the hoovering whilst our guests are still in the clubhouse.

 

MILLENNIUM LEAGUE (2000)

Having declined to join the Millennium League, which began in the year 2000 Sevenoaks had a change of heart and applied to join in 2001.  The league is played over four rinks, and can be arranged on any day, subject to agreement between the clubs involved. There are only a few registered teams in addition to Sevenoaks and include Tonbridge, The Grove (Tunbridge Wells), Ditton, Holmesdale & Maidstone.  Additionally there is a knockout tournament with ten players to each side playing a singles/ pair/ triple and rink with an aggregate score. This should prove to be an interesting experiment.

 

 

STEVE CRUTCHER – GREENKEEPER

The Sevenoaks District Council responsibility for the green maintenance still continues after 90 years but in the late 1980’s, as a result of Government edict they were compelled to put the work out to contract, in open tender. They had hoped to win the contract themselves, but were ‘pipped at the post’ by the Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, who, it transpired, had under-valued the work. The new contractors began their work on the greens in 1989, after the previous greenkeeper, Bernard Lucas, had left the Council. Luckily, for Sevenoaks Bowling Club, this tendering error turned out very well indeed, as it introduced the club to the new greenkeeper, by the name of Steve Crutcher, and despite several contractual changes since, the Council have managed to retain his services for over 12 years. 

Steve, who had had experience of maintaining greens in Australia, is a fine greenkeeper and has done a first rate job at Sevenoaks. He is, undoubtedly, the best greenkeeper at Sevenoaks since the days of Bert Stonley.

There were some differences of opinion in the early days, when the club were seeking a faster green, as it had been 20 years before, but these were soon overcome and Steve has tackled the challenge with great enthusiasm and dedication.

Apart from the wonderful condition of the greens, Steve is to be applauded for the manner in which he has kept the green surrounds and in particular the well manicured privet hedges that surround the greens.

He has managed to keep the greens in immaculate condition in spite of the fire or other vandalism, on the top green and the damage caused by bowlers from time to time.

The club and the Council are most fortunate to have the services of Steve Crutcher and long may it last.

 

The following are some of the honours enjoyed by the club: -

 

1981          Mrs Nellie Costelloe ( President KCWBA )

 

1987          D. Cheeseman ( KCBA Badge )

 

1988          C. Jolley ( Maude Wood Winner )

 

1989/90     D. Banfield ( President KCIBA )

 

1990          P. Bowers & J. Evans ( KCBA Pairs Badge )

 

1991          C. Jolley ( Maude Wood Winner )

 

1991          Mrs Barbara Croucher ( President KCWBA )

 

 1992          C. Letherby, M. Chapman, W. Cheeseman & D. Banfield

                                                                                                            (R.U. KCBA Fours)

1992          V. Staples ( R.U. KCWBA Singles )

 

1993          C. Jolley ( KCWBA Badge )

 

1993          D. Henning ( KCBA Badge )

 

1993          M. Chapman ( KCBA Badge )

 

1993          W. Cheeseman ( KCBA Badge )

 

1993          H. Chapman ( R.U. Maude Wood )

 

1993          A. Morgan, W. Cheeseman & D. Banfield ( KCBA Triples Winners )

 

1994          A. Morgan ( County Badge )

 

1994          B. J. Burt ( President KCBA )

 

1994/97     W. Cheeseman ( England Under 25’s ) Also played Middleton Cup.

 

1995          H. Chapman, M. Dawes & E. Tucker ( KCWBA Badge )

 

1998          J. Winter ( Kent Under 25’s Singles Winner )

 

1999          J. Winter ( Middleton Cup KCBA Badge )

 

1999          D. Henning (Middleton Cup-After winning the KCBA Two-Wood Comp.)

 

2000          J. Winter (Kent Under 25 Double Rinks-Inter-County)

 

SEVENOAKS INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

The Sevenoaks District Council made the Indoor Bowling Club possible. Together with the hundreds of existing and new bowlers, who wished to play indoor bowls, as a winter pastime. Several of the Sevenoaks outdoor club members served on the steering committee for the indoor centre and continued to play a major part in its administration and development when the centre was opened in 1991.

 

Apart, from the boost to the membership, the indoor centre brought provided another blessing to the outdoor club, in the form of its car parking.  Hitherto, the outdoor bowlers had to leave their cars in the Holmesdale Road car park or in Hollybush Lane. Both of these were about 100 metres from the clubhouse and the members and their visitors did not appreciate having to carry their bowls this distance. The indoor club was built on the site of the old putting green that ran along the south side of the greens. This meant having the new car park and entrance to the outdoor club, on the south side of the green. This was a wonderful improvement to the club. The loss of the gazebo on the top green was a small price to pay for the betterment derived from these changes.

 

From 1991 onwards many of the outdoor members joined the indoor club and took an active part in its activities, helping to administer the bowls and winning many trophies.

 

THE 80^th ANNIVERSARY

The club’s eightieth anniversary, in 1991, was celebrated and a slate coaster was struck with a motif of the club’s badge to commemorate the event.  These became quite popular as they were presented to our guests during matches and also used to reward the highest winning rinks in matches.

 

SBC UNIFICATION

It was recognised, by the club committee, in the mid-eighties, that consideration should be given to up-dating the Constitution in the face of a rapidly changing world.

In early 1990 the Sevenoaks Bowling club took the momentous decision to unify the membership. Although this was considered to be long overdue, Sevenoaks was one of the leading clubs in the county to take this course of action. Ever since the Ladies Section had been formed in 1958 the ladies had enjoyed little more than a second class status, even though they had paid the same subscription for a number of years.

 

A Sub–Committee was formed to look into this matter and to draft a new Constitution in order to convey equality to all the members. The sub Committee comprised Enid Foreman, the Ladies Section Secretary at that time, Roy Dickenson the Club captain, H. H. Brocklebank (Trustee) and Neville Hughes (Asst. Secretary).

 

Numerous meetings of the Sub – Committee took place until a new Constitution was formulated to present to an Extraordinary General Meeting at which they were approved, having been vetted by the club’s unofficial legal advisor Ralph Harwood.

 

The new Constitution was endorsed by the members at the next AGM and came into force in 1991.  The approved arrangements provided for a General Committee, a Management Committee, a Men’s Section and a Ladies Section. The General and Management Committees comprised both men and ladies. Since the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer were open to any member it was a pleasing development for Mrs Enid Foreman to become the first Secretary under the new system; an office, which, she held for two years, during which time she carried out her duties in an exemplary manner.  A few years later in the light of experience the Constitution was modified to reduce the size of the General Committee and to omit the Management Committee.

 

 

COUNTY PRESIDENT NO. 3

In 1992 the club was honoured once again when Bernard J. Burt was elected as the Junior Vice President of the KCBA.  Bernard was indeed fortunate, as it was necessary to hold a ballot, as there were two contenders for this office, at the KCBA Annual General Meeting.  The other candidate for the post was, none other than, the County Coach, Norman Evenden, a very popular figure in the county.  It was a great pity that there had to be a ballot for this post, as both, were worthy candidates and had been good servants of the KCBA.  Bernard went on to become Senior Vice-President in 1993 and held the office of County President in 1994.  In 1996 he became the President of the Kent County Past Presidents Bowling Association and headed their tour to Felixstowe, Suffolk, a venue chosen by Bernard. He became Match Secretary to the KCPPBA, a post he filled, with enthusiasm, for five years, as well as continuing in his capacity as Press Officer for the KCBA. He was elected President of Sevenoaks Bowling Club in 1996 having been captain in 1975-1976 and 1983-1984 and secretary in 1990-1991.  Bernard still had enough energy to take over as Secretary of the Sevenoaks Triples League, when George Else stood down, in 1996. Bernard was elected to the KCBA Council in 1974 and retired 25 years later.

 

 

PAVILION REFURBISHMENT

Towards the end of the 1980’s the club made a concerted effort to redevelop the pavilion and changing rooms by replacing them with a two-storey pavilion. This was intended to provide access to the upper green as well as improving the view over the lower green. It was something of a pipe dream but the Sevenoaks District Council showed a degree of serious interest, by producing a set of drawings for the scheme, which, in the end turned out to be too expensive.

 

There was a brief period, after this, when the District Council tried to persuade the outdoor club to amalgamate with the indoor club and do away with the outdoor facilities.  Fortunately this did not come to anything, at the time, but it is not to say it will not happen in the future.

 

As a result of these various negotiations the District Council came up trumps in 1994 and agreed to refurbish the present pavilion at a cost of £60-70,000. This was most fortunate for the club. The Council did a marvellous job and gave the building a new lease of life. The club benefited from the internal refurbishment by getting a completely new bar, kitchen, hot water system and new gas heaters, in addition to new decorations and rewiring.  Whilst this work was being undertaken the club could not use the pavilion and had to play all their matches away in 1995. The committee during this period, under Sid Gamwells, the Secretary of the club at that time, is to be congratulated for its efforts in managing the club through the alterations.

 

It is interesting to note that the club was not on the telephone until 1986, when Alistair Irving kindly contributed a donation of £200 for this to be installed. It took 90 years for the club to acquire a dishwasher, which was kindly donated by Jean Slater in memory of her husband David. For some inexplicable reason the committee had declined an earlier offer. As usual it was left to John Dawes to install the equipment.

 

The club also benefited from numerous other improvements during the 1990’s including a green watering system, new seats around the bottom green, new ditches, scoreboard repairs, new weather vane, seating for the top green, changing room lockers, and improvements to and new honours boards. It is impossible to keep up with these improvements and whilst many of the members contributed to this work, in some way, one particular name stands out above all others. John Dawes has been a wonderful member of Sevenoaks Bowling Club. Apart from supporting the club on the playing front, on a regular basis, he has spent the last ten years doing all kinds of jobs for the club. Many of which have required a great deal of expertise and skill which John Dawes has provided in abundance, as well as carrying out the tasks economically, accepting little or no reward for his labours. The club owes him an enormous debt of gratitude.

 

DON FOREMAN – SPECIAL TRIBUTE

The club has been well served by a stream of excellent captains during its history but few have contributed more generously of his time and patience than Don Foreman. He took over as secretary in 1984 and did a first class job for three years before taking the post of captain in 1987, a post he also held for three years. The normal span for a club captain is two years but Don suffered with his health in his first year as captain and was permitted to do the extra year. By way of recognition Don was elected as president of the club in 1991 and continued until 1995, thus putting in a continuous period of eleven years. Don thoroughly enjoyed the friendships he found at Sevenoaks and, although, he was not a star bowler his contribution to the management of the club sets him aside as a fine member who acted in the true spirit of the game.

Of course, it is impossible to speak of Don Foreman without mentioning his wife Enid. They are an inseparable couple and Enid, in her own way, has contributed just as much to the club as Don.  In addition to her hard work in the ladies section she became the first lady secretary of the club after unification.

 

 

 

LADIES NATIONAL AND COUNTY TOURNAMENTS

In 1996 the Sevenoaks Ladies won the Belle Trophy at Beckenham, Kent by beating Danson Park in a tournament with 12 players, in each team, making up singles/pairs/triples & fours.  The Sevenoaks team comprised Claire Jolley (Singles), Margaret Dawes & Hilary Chapman (Pairs), Jan Nash, Joy Hyson & Rita Harwood (Triples) and Sally Burton, Eve Tucker, Muriel Marshall & Valerie Staples (Fours0. They reached the Final again in 1997 and narrowly lost to Bromley by four shots.

In 1997 the ladies reached the Divisional Final of the Mollie Cleggett Tournament and the Kent semi-final of the Travelsphere Tournament.

The ladies played in the Mollie Cleggett Finals at Sandwich in 1998 and finished third in the play off. This Tournament is played with double rinks and the Sevenoaks team comprised Claire Jolley, Sally Burton, Doris Chapman & Eve Tucker/ Margaret Dawes, Joy Hyson, Hilary Chapman & Valerie Staples.

In the same year Margaret Dawes, Eve Tucker, Hilary Chapman & Valerie Staples were quarter Finalists at Leamington Spa, Claire Jolley & Valerie Staples reached the Section finals of the County Pairs & Sally Burton the section finals of the Maude Wood Singles.

Once again the ladies managed to get to the Mollie Cleggett Finals at Hartley C.C. and finished third once more in the play-offs. The team comprised Claire Jolley, Jill Dickenson, Polly Cresswell & Hilary Chapman/Jan Nash, Joy Hyson, Doris Chapman & Valerie Staples.

 

MIXED BOWLS

By the end of the Millennium mixed bowling was becoming quite popular but most of the matches continued to be played within the respective sections despite the integration at Sevenoaks. In 1998 Jill Dickenson the ladies captain met up with an old Kent hockey friend, Jill Sellars from Folkestone Bowling Club, and as a result a series of mixed matches were arranged. The first of these took place at Folkestone in 1998 when Sevenoaks struggled in the pouring rain before the game was abandoned after 15 ends.(12 rinks). The return match at Sevenoaks was played over 10 rinks and Sevenoaks lost by one run. By the year 2000 the novelty seemed to have worn off and Sevenoaks won a 5-rink match at Folkestone.  The fixture was not renewed.

 

POPULAR VENUE

There is no doubt that the wonderful facilities at Sevenoaks Bowling Club made it a popular venue for many of the prestigious events organised by the County Associations. The club hosted the KCBA Finals on numerous occasions between 1980 and 2001, as well as the later rounds in the Kent County Tournaments and Two – Wood Competitions, County Matches, KCPPBA and Past Presidents Games. The men played for several years against the KCWBA in a trial for the Johns Trophy and hosted the KCWBA Two – Wood and Benevolent Days.

 

One of the most popular features was the raised bank, in front of the lower green, surmounted by the clubhouse, which provided a tremendous view for spectators. The landscape beyond the green to the east, over farmland and Knole Park Golf Club was quite spectacular. Unfortunately, over the years numerous trees have been planted and as they reach their mature height they are beginning to blot out the hitherto, expansive view of the countryside.

 

 

 

COUNTY PRESIDENT NO.4

 

In November 1999 the Sevenoaks Bowling Club’s Treasurer, Allan Chase was elected as Junior Vice-President of the KCBA and is President elect for the year 2002.  Allan is the fourth member of Sevenoaks Club to honoured in this way, although his father, Norman Chase MBE, who is now a member, served as President of the KCBA when he was with the Bromley B.C. in 1990. In the short time Allan has been with Sevenoaks he has been a first class committeeman and has made an excellent Treasurer since 1994 and served as captain in 1998-1999.  His work as Treasurer has been particularly valuable in handling the club’s finances, through the pavilion refurbishment and during period of rising costs and declining membership.  His budgeting system of the club’s accounts, since he first took over in 1994, has kept the members clearly informed of the club’s financial position, and helped to avoid any substantial increases in the annual subscriptions.

 

 

HANDICAPPED BOWLERS

The case of Ruth Small serves as a good example of the value of bowling to people in all walks of life.  Ruth is blind but has managed to meet the challenge presented by playing bowls, in spite of her disability, and has succeeded by competing at the highest level.  The Sevenoaks Bowling club is indeed proud of Ruth’s achievements.

Blind bowlers are graded according to their degree of residual sight.  The grades run from B1 to B4.  Totally blind persons are classified as B1, as in the case of Ruth, who has to wear totally blacked out glasses, for these events.

Ruth won the English National Association of Visually Handicapped Bowlers National Championship for B1 Ladies in Great Yarmouth in 1999 and again in 2000 at Gateshead.

In 2000 Ruth won the Gold Medal for B1 Ladies in the UK Singles, representing England, against Scotland and Wales in Newport, Gwent.  These Championships are organised by British Blind Sports.

Ruth has been selected to play for England in the World Bowling Championships for Visually Impaired to be held at Girvan, Scotland during August 2001. 

The UK Indoor Singles 2001 (B.B.S.) is to be held at Newport, Gwent at the end of April and Ruth has one more eliminator, in March, to decide if she will play for England in that event.  A truly remarkable performance, by Ruth Small, who would be the first to admit, that she could not have succeeded without the help of he husband Jack.

 

Lawrie Turner is another handicapped bowler who has carried the England flag overseas. Lawrie, who had a serious car accident in 1952, and developed cerebral palsy, as a result, represented England in Australia in 1997. The trip was arranged by the International Organisation of Sport for the Disabled and played in the LB3 group and won a Bronze Medal in that class. He had only been playing for four years when he had his first trial and is going to play in the South African National Open Tournament in 2001.  He has also been invited to play in the Robin Hood World Championships to be held in Nottingham in June 2001.

Lawrie found bowling in Australia very different to outdoor bowling in England.  The greens were rock hard and fast: equal to the indoor greens over here, but he found the wind the most difficult problem with which to deal.

 

 

 

DECLINING MEMBERSHIP

Despite the high membership over the last ten years, by 2001 it had receded to the 1981 level of 130. This was mainly due to lack of recruitment and players leaving to join other successful clubs in the area, more than natural wastage. There was also another phenomenon.  Even though the indoor club had brought benefits to the outdoor club, in the form of car parking and an early influx of members, the trend was starting to reverse. Many of the older players were becoming reluctant to play outside, when they could be enjoying the equable conditions provided by playing indoors in the summer. This, coupled with the increasing tendency among new bowlers, who started their bowling careers playing indoors in the winter, and then chose to remain indoors all the year round, rather than join an outdoor club. Despite this deficiency, the club continues to make strenuous efforts to raise their membership.  Nevertheless, the committee continued to make a strenuous effort to reverse this trend.

 

NINETIETH ANNIVERSARY (1911-2001)

The OFFICERS of the club, in the year 2001, when the club celebrated its 90^th Anniversary, were as follows: -

President: Brian Jolley who joined the club in 1965 and is probably the longest serving member.  He  served on the committee for many years and spent much of his time coaching new bowlers, having, himself qualified as an instructor and marker.  Brian would, perhaps, be best remembered for his long service as Wednesday captain, a post he held in 1986 and again in 1991 until he gave up the year before he became President in 1999. In the year 2000, Brian generously presented Sevenoaks with a new club flag. Brian and wife Claire look after welfare and benevolent.

Vice-President: Eric Mitchell joined the club in 1990 and eventually became captain in 1996-97, after two years as vice-captain under Michael Chapman.  Eric has served on the committee for many years and apart from being a very successful bowler he has given generously of his time in organising the club competitions and ensuring that the trophies are returned each year for the annual presentations at the dinner. He was also a trustee of the club and was also been responsible for looking after the rink allocation board, a chore he valiantly took over from the indefatigable Jim Robyns, who did the job for several years.  One should not forget Eric’s wife Peggy, wh served the club well for several years organising the Tea Rota. She is also a neat little bowler, who tends to hide her light under a bushel.

Hon. Secretary: Ron Williams a member since 1991 and was elected to the post of secretary in 1997.  He has filled the appointment with great dedication for the past five years even though he had a difficult act to follow. His immediate predecessors were Enid Foreman and Sid Gamwells, both of whom had given valuable service to the club over the previous seven years. This was a particularly busy time in the history of the club, whilst the pavilion underwent major refurbishment, in 1991-95.

Hon. Treasurer: Allan Chase joined the club in the early 1990’s, when his father Norman also joined Sevenoaks from Bromley B.C. Since then he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the post of Senior Vice-President of the Kent County Bowling Club and is destined to become Sevenoaks’ fourth County President in the year 2002, thus following in his father’s footsteps. Norman Chase MBE was County President in 1990. Allan has also held the post of club treasurer since 1994 and has done a first class job of managing the club’s finances. He was also club champion in 1998, surprising everyone by beating the great David Banfield.

 

MEN’S SECTION:

Men’s Captain: Brian Evans a member since 1990 is in his second year in the office and has done exceptionally well under trying circumstances. In the face of a declining membership Brian has had to work very hard to ensure that the club honoured its matches and has not enjoyed the full support of all the members that he was entitled to. The club is extremely grateful to Brian and his wife Gillian for all the years they ran the annual dinner and for being instrumental in arranging for the dinner to be held at the Chipstead Sailing Club.

Hon. Section Secretary: Sid Gamwells who was secretary of the General Committee between 1994 and 1996 joined the club in 1991 and has served on the committee for much of that time with distinction, often with his wife Eileen who has been a keen supporter of the ladies section.

Hon. Match Secretary: Ralph Harwood a stalwart member of the club, together with his wife Rita, who has been leading light in the ladies section. With his legal background, Ralph has been of great assistance to the club during the unification process in vetting and amending the constitution. He has been match secretary for several years following on from David Cheeseman and David Slater, doing much of the unsung work of arranging the club’s fixtures behind the scenes.

Wednesday Captain: John Tuck a comparatively new member who quickly got into his stride becoming vice-captain to Peter Haden-Scott and then taking over the job himself. John has also taken over the post of treasurer of the Sevenoaks League in order to keep Bernard Burt on the straight and narrow.

League Representative: David Banfield – you cannot keep a good man down. Much has been, quite rightly, said about David and his reputation goes before him. Not satisfied with playing in the league for 33 years he is still in there looking after the interests of the club – who is better qualified?

LADIES SECTION:

Ladies Captain: Gillian Evans is making a first class job of shepherding the ladies and made an excellent surrogate captain at the dinner in 1999 by making Jill Dickenson’s speech, when Jill had lost her voice.

Vice-Captain: Jan Nash who has turned out to be an excellent bowler and should make a first class captain. Very much involved with the steering committee of the indoor bowling club in the early 1990’s on behalf of the Sevenoaks District Council.

Hon. Section Secretary: Valerie Staples has been a member for the best part of twenty years and has learnt her trade well.  She is a very competent bowler who has won many competitions during her stay at Sevenoaks, both indoors and out. Having won her county badge she has played regularly for the county and has represented the county in the Johns Trophy at Leamington Spa. Valerie’s late husband, David, was also a fine bowler who won many competitions in his own right. David was a true character and he is greatly missed by all that knew him. In addition to being secretary since 1994, Valerie is the County Representative for the ladies.

Hon. Match Secretary: Margaret Dawes has been a member for over ten years and has proved to be a first class lead bowler who won her badge and played for the county. Like Valerie, Margaret has played in the Johns Trophy at Leamington Spa.

Tournament Secretary: Joy Hyson has been a member for ten years and has always worked tirelessly for the club. Joy was ladies captain in 1994-95 and ha proved to be an excellent club bowler. She has given generously of her time to look after the competitions for the ladies and to ensure that the trophies are returned in a clean condition for the annual presentations. Joy has an acute sense of humour  and is extremely artistic – and modest.

 

 

SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIR-PERSONS:

House: John Dawes is indispensable, a fact no one would dispute. It would be impossible to record all the things John has done for his club. Nor would one have the impertinence to suggest that he had ever done a particular job badly. It just does not happen. One of his latest innovations was to make new rink numbers and markers and bowl markers for both greens and they are beautifully made. John is a true artist and invaluable to the club as well as being a real gentleman.

House Supplies: EileenGamwells performs another of those unseen jobs, that everyone expects to be done, but don’t know who actually does them. She goes about her things quietly and efficiently and always has a smile for you.

Tea Rota: Annie Houghton is another of those real workers in the club, who is highly efficient and reliable when it comes to organising special catering events.

Bar: Roy Dickenson has been a member for over 21 years and first served on the bar committee in 1983. This is the fourth consecutive year he has served in this capacity and the third time as bar chairman. He is ably assisted by Mac Roxburgh, who is one of the longest serving members in the club, and John Atkins who has been a member for well over twenty years.

Francis Drake Fellowship: John Atkins has been issuing the Francis Drake Fellowship badges for at least sixteen years having taken over from John Crouch.

Press Officer: Steve Howell is a comparatively new member but has taken on a very important office in making certain that the local press get all the up to date information about the club’s activities.

Greens and Rinks: Brian Evans and Alan Doree are responsible for liaising with the greenkeeper and ensuring that the rinks are set out correctly for the various competitions.

Social and Dinner: Alan Doree and Rita Doree are continuing to organise the arrangements for the annual dinner. The 2000 dinner was an excellent event at Chipstead Sailing Club, especially the cabaret that followed the presentations. Tony Morgan, doing his Tommy Cooper impersonation was hilarious, as was Jill Perry with her Joyce Grenfell story and Joy Hyson, Gillian Evans and Annie Houghton taking off the Beverly Sisters. It was surprising that no one had a heart attack!  

 

The Committee  arranged a number of special events to celebrate the club’s anniversary as follows: -

 

6^th May 2001     A Car Rally followed by a meal in the clubhouse.

 

24^th May 2001   Sevenoaks v KCBA President & Council.

 

16^th June 2001  KCWBA Two-Wood Competition

 

17^th June 2001  KCWBA (Johns Trophy Trial against Sevenoaks Men)

 

19^th June 2001   KCBA v Somerset County Bowling Association.

 

30^th July 2001    KCPPBA v Banks Bowling Association.

 

19^th Aug. 2001  Open Triples Tournament ( Sponsored by Inplay)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEVENOAKS BOWLING CLUB PRESIDENT

 

1911 – 1915               No record

 

1916 – 1920               F. Swanzy             (SUDC Councillor)

 

1921 – 1931               A. Simmonds     (Founder of the Simmonds Hospital Cup)

 

1932 – 1940               Rev. Hanson

 

1941 – 1943               H. Outram          (Outram’s Sports Shop)

 

1944                          J. H. Lorimer       (Lorimer’s Office Supplies & Toy Shop)

 

1945                          E. C. Howse        (Solicitor)`

 

1946                          S. F. Wood          (Woods Bakery & Bakers Shop)

 

1947                          E. P. Barton         (Teacher Bayham Road School)

 

1948                          J. W. Emery

 

1949                          W. H. Miller         (Pharmacist)

 

1950 – 1953               E. C. Cole

 

1954 – 1957               W. J. Gypps        (Public Health Inspector – SUDC)

 

1958 – 1963               S. V. Berwick       (Local Builder & SUDC Councillor)

 

1964 – 1967               A. G. A. Rainey  (Chartered Accountant)

 

1968 – 1971               A. F. Ames          (Structural Engineer – Redpath Brown)

 

1972 – 1974               T. A. Jordan        (Bank Manager)

 

1975 – 1978               E. Reeves            (General Foreman – Stanley Berwick)

 

1979 – 1982               H. E. Grimwood  (Kent Policeman)

 

1983 – 1985               E. H. Sharp          (South Suburban Gas Company)

 

1986 – 1990               R. Oake              (British Gas – Showroom Manager)

 

1991 – 1995               D. Foreman        (Solicitors Office)

 

1996                          B. J. Burt              (Print Representative)

 

1997 – 1998               R. G. Dickenson (Chartered Surveyor)

 

1999 -                        B. T. Jolley           (Schoolteacher)

 

SECRETARY                                                   TREASURER

 

1911 – 1915               None                                   1911 –1916                 None

 

1916 – 1920               G. Wood                             1917 – 1923                G. Wood         

 

1921 – 1928               S. F. Lewin                          1924 - 1928                A. Tuffin

 

1929 – 1931               E. B. Jago                            1929 – 1931                A. Beveridge

 

1932 – 1945               W. J. Gypps                      1932 – 1938                E. C. Howse     

 

1946 – 1949               T. Pierce                             1939 – 1945                A. Beveridge

 

1950 – 1951               A. V. Catt                           1946 – 1953               H. Goldsmith

 

1952 – 1954               R. Watson                           1954 – 1956                G. J. Bone       

 

1955 – 1956               G. J. Bone                           1957                              R. Horne

 

1957 - 1961                E. H. Sharp                         1958 – 1960                 S.C. Sly

 

1962 1974                  E. Reeves                           1961 – 1970                A. F. Ames

 

1975 – 1983               R. Oake                              1971 – 1982                 E. H. Sharp

 

1984 – 1986               D. Foreman                         1983 – 1989                G. F. Best

 

1987 –1989                D. Slater                             1990 – 1993                J. Pearman

 

1990 – 1991               B. J. Burt                            1994 -                            A. Chase

 

1992 – 1993               Mrs E. Foreman                 

 

1994 – 1996               S. R. Gamwells

 

1997 -                        R. F. Williams

 

MENS CAPTAIN

 

1911-15                     None                                   1960-61                      E. Reeves

 

1916-29                     W. Scothern                        1962-63                      E. C. Cordrey

 

1930-31                     E. C. Howse                       1964-65                      N. G. Miller

 

1932-33                     A. E. Fox                            1966-68                      E. H. Sharp

 

1934-36                     A. Beveridge                       1969-70                      R. Oake

 

1937                          T. Lawrence                       1971-72                      H. Grimwood

 

1938                          A. Phillips                            1973-74                      T. O. Marshall

 

1939-40                     A. Anderson                        1975-76                      B. J. Burt

 

1941-43                     J. H. Lorimer                       1977-78                      J. Adams

 

1944-45                     W. Tebay                            1979-80                      E. M. Shepherd

 

1946-47                     W. H. Miller                        1981-82                      R. V. Broadhurst

 

1948                          E. C. Cole                           1983-84                      B. J. Burt

 

1949                          W. J. Gypps                        1985-86                      D. W. Slater

 

1950                          E. C. Howse                       1987-89                      D. Foreman

 

1951                          W. J. Gypps                        1990-91                      R. G. Dickenson

 

1952                          H. A. Bowden                     1992-93                      D. Banfield

 

1953-56                     R. E. Outram                       1994-95                      M. Chapman

 

1957                          A. V. Catt                           1996-97                      E. Mitchell

 

1958                          E. Goodman                        1998-99                      A. M. Chase

 

1959                          T. A. Jordan                        2000-01                      B. A. Evans

 

LADIES PRESIDENT

 

1958-60                     O. Swift                              1981-2                       P. Bolam

 

1961-63                     V. Jarvis                             1983                          P. A. Adams

 

1964-66                     O. Green                             1984-85                      C. Pateman

 

1967-72                     K. Osborne                         1986                          E. Pearson

 

1973-74                     E. Pearson                          1987                          K. Middleton   

 

1975-76                     W. Aldridge                         1988                          M. Burt

 

1977-78                     D. Melson                           1989                          J. Murch

 

1979-80                     B. Oake                              1990                          E. Tucker

 

                                                                            1991                          S. G. Gill

 

 

 

LADIES CAPTAIN

 

1959                          V. Jarvis                             1977-78                      B. Oake

 

1960-61                     G. M. Powell                       1979-80                      P. Bolam

 

1962-63                     O. Green                             1981-83                      C. Pateman

 

1964                          J. M. Monger                      1984-86                      M. Burt

 

1965-66                     K. Osborne                         1987-88                      E. Foreman

 

1967                          H. Gypps                             1989-90                      P. Smith

 

1968-69                     E. Pearson                          1991-92                      C. Pateman

1970                          E. Cooper                            1993                          P. Smith

 

1971                          E. Cooper/M. Hann             1994-95                      J. Hyson

 

1972                          M. Hann                             1996-97                      H. Chapman

 

1973-74                     W. Aldridge                         1998-99                      J. Dickenson

 

1975-76                     D. Melsom                          2000-01                      J. Evans

 

LADIES SECRETARY

 

1958-60                     V. Jarvis                             1983-1988                  E. Tucker

 

1961-66                     E. M. Warwick-                  1989-91                      E. Foreman

                                                     Pearson

1967-68                     O. Green                             1992-93                      H. Chapman

 

1969-74                     M. Vickers                          1994-(2001)                V. Staples

 

LADIES TREASURER

 

1959-60                     D. Dunstan                          1973-74                      E. Cooper

 

1961-63                     K. M. Osborne                    1975                          G. Bell

 

1964-66                     D. Dunstan                          1976-79                      N. Costelloe

 

1967                          J. M. Monger                      1980-86                      D. Melsom

 

1968-69                     M. Lee                                1987-90                      S. Gill

 

1970-72                     E. Pearson                          1991                          P. Smith

 

 

MEN’S COMPETITIONS (1912 onwards)

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

 

1912                           W. Hards                               1956                            A.G.  Morrish

 

1913                           A. H. Fitt                               1957                            R. E. Outram

 

1914                           W. Scothern                          1958                            H. H. Palmer

 

1915                           A. H. Fitt                               1959                            H. Sable

 

1916                           J. W. Alstone                         1960                            R. Watson

 

1917/18/19                 W. H. Chase                          1961                            M. E. Taylor

 

1920/21                      B. R. Cordery                        1962/63                        B. Stonley

 

1922                           W. Scothern                          1964                             R. E. Outram

 

1923                           B. R. Cordery                        1965                             E. G Hann

 

1924                           W. H. Chase                          1966                             W. H. Cooper

 

1925                           No Competition                     1967                             R. E. Outram

 

1926                           W. F. Heard                           1968/69                        B. Stonley

 

1927                           B. R. Cordery                         1970                            W. Aldridge

 

1928                           E. C. Howse                           1971                             A. E. Benham

 

1929/30                      J. Couser                                1972                             W. R. Payne

 

1931                           E. B. Jago                               1973                             H. Sable

 

1932                           E. C. Howse                           1974                             W. Aldridge

 

1933                           A. E. Fox                                1975/76                        D. Banfield

 

1934/35/36                E. C. Howse                            1977                            B. Stonley

 

1937                           W. J. Gypps                            1978                             D. Slater

 

1938                           E. C. Howse                            1979/80                       J. Fenner

 

1939                           W. E. Thornton                       1981                            B. J. Burt

 

1940                           E. C. Howse                            1982                            D. Slater

 

1941                           S. R. Comber                           1983                           D. Cheeseman

 

1942                           S. F. Wood                              1984                            A. Roxburgh

 

1943                           R. Watson                                1985                           D.Cheeseman

 

1944                           A. G. A. Rainey                       1986                           R. Richfield

 

1945                           E. C. Howse                             1987                           J. Atkins

 

1946                           W. J. Gypps                             1988/89/90                 D. Banfield

 

1947                           R. Watson                                1991                           D. Henning

 

1948                           A. Wood                                  1992                           D. Banfield

 

1949                           R. E. Outram                            1993                          D. Staples

 

1950/51                      P. Sinden                                  1994                          W. Cheeseman

 

1952                           W. J. Gypps                              1995                          D. Henning

 

1953                           A. Wood                                   1996/97                     W. Cheeseman

 

1954                           H. A. Bowden                           1998                          A. Chase

 

1955                           P. Sinden                                   1999                          J. Winter

 

                                                                                     2000                          D. Banfield

 

                                                                                     2001                          K. Pearce                           

                                                                                  

 

LADIES COMPETITIONS (1968 onwards)

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

 

1975                            E. Wilkins                            1989                            C. Jolley

 

1976                            T. Daniel                              1990                            P. Smith

 

1977                            E. Pearson                            1991                            E. Tucker

 

1978                            S. G. Gill                              1992                            V. Staples

 

1979                            G. Robertson                        1993                            E. Tucker

 

1980                            K. Middleton                        1994                            V. Staples

 

1981                            E. Pearson                             1995                           E. Tucker

 

1982                            E. Tucker                               1996                          C. Jolley

 

1983                            J. Parish                                 1997                           V. Staples

 

1984                            M. Burt                                  1998/99                      M. Dawes

 

1985                            C. Jolley                                 2000                           J. Nash

 

1986                            E. Pearson                              2001                           V. Staples

 

1987                            E. Tucker                               2002

 

1988                            V. Staples                              2003                     

 

 

 

FRANKLIN AMES (Over 65)

 

1968                          R. Outram                           1984                          G. H. Tucker

 

1969                          C. Alderman                        1985                          G. F. Best

 

1970                          E. C. Jarvis                         1986                          C. Hall

 

1971                          G. Oliver                             1987                          G. H. Tucker

 

1972                          H. Stonley                           1988                          B. J. Burt

 

1973                          G. H. Else                           1989                          C. J. Richardson

 

1974                          W. Aldridge                         1990                          B. Jolley

 

1975                          R. May                               1991                          J. Lawson

 

1976                          H. Stonley                           1992                          J. Pearman

 

1977                          L. B. Sims                           1993                          D. Chapman

 

1978                          W. Aldridge                         1994                          C. Coleman

 

1979                          J. W. Robyns                       1995                          D. Chapman

 

1980                          R. V. Broadhurst                 1996                          S. Ellingworh

 

1981                          H. Allen                              1997                          B. Akery

 

1982                          C. Winter                            1998                          B. Akery

 

1983                          H. Allen                              1999                          E. Mitchell

 

                                                                            2000                          F. Buss

 

HEARD TROPHY

 

1933                          E. Martin                             1967                          W. R. Payne

 

1934                          E. Harvey                           1968                          J. Crouch

 

1935                          S. Comber                           1969                          H. E. Grimwood

 

1936                          W. J. Gypps                        1970                          D. Slater

 

1937                          H. Porch                             1971                          D. Banfield

 

1938                          R. Hayward                        1972                          E. G. Hann

 

1939                          A. C. Anderson                   1973                          A. F. Ames

 

1940                          S. Comber                           1974-75                      D. Banfield

 

1941                          E. C. Howse                       1976                          L. Hopper

 

1942-43                     S. F. Wood                          1977                          G. Castle

 

1944                          E. R. Barton                        1978                          D. Slater

 

1945                          R. Watson                           1979                          B. J. Burt

 

1946                          A. Beveridge                       1980                          J. Fenner

 

1947                          A. Wood                             1981                          F. Parish

 

1948                          Not Played                          1982-83                      R. Richfield

 

1949                          F. G. Bigg                           1984                          R. Turner

 

1950                          M. E. Taylor                        1985                          B. J. Burt

 

1951                          R. E. Outram                       1986                          R. Richfield

 

1952                          R. Watson                           1987                          J. Atkins

 

1953                          F. Tooth                              1988                          D. G. Staples

 

1954                          P. Sinden                             1989                          D. Banfield

 

1955                          M. E. Taylor                        1990                          D. Tynan

 

1956                          R. Watson                           1991                          J. McCarthy

 

1957                          M. E. Taylor                        1992                          W. Cheeseman

 

1958                          P. Sinden                             1993                          J. Johnston

 

1959                          A. F. Ames                         1994                          D. Banfield

 

1960                          E. C. Cordery                      1995                          D. Cheeseman

 

1961                          A. Stonley                           1996                          W. Cheeseman

 

1962                          E. G. Hann                          1997                          D. G. Staples

 

1963                          E. Wigmore                         1998                          J. Egan

 

1964                          R. E. Outram                       1999                          D. Henning

 

1965-66                     E. G. Hann                          2000                          A. M. Roxburgh

 

OUTRAM PAIRS

 

1936                          W. J. Gypps                        1968                          A. F. Ames

                                 B. Dean                                                               M. J. Reeves

1937                          T. B. Lawrence                   1969                          T. Shaftoe

                                 C. Pierce                                                              E. A. Osborne

1938                          A. E. Fox                            1970                          G. Oliver

                                 E. Martin                                                              S. S. King

1939                          not completed                      1971                          D. Banfield

                                                                                                             H. Benniman

1940                          A. Beveridge                       1972                          D. Banfield

                                 F. Vallins                                                              D. J. Roberts   

1941                          R. Hayward                        1973                          D. Slater

                                 W. W. Manktelow                                                N. Shepherd

1942                          R. E. Outram                       1974                          H. Grimwood

                                 P. Dowling                                                           J. Lock

1943                          T. Pierce                             1975                          D. Slater

                                 A. S. Dowlling                                                      W. Cooley

1944                          W. H. Miller                        1976                          R. V. Broadhurst

                                 G. Burr                                                                 A. Highfield

1945                          R. E. Outram                       1977                          D. Banfield

                                 J. Arthur                                                               J. Mitham

1947                          E. C. Cole                           1978                          B. J. Burt

                                 E. Martin                                                              F. Young

1948                          V. J. Clack                          1979                          B. J. Burt

                                 W. Shoesmith                                                       D. I. Richards

1949-50                     T. Zealey                            1980                          J. Atkins

                                 S. Wells                                                                D. Cheeseman

1951                          R. Watson                           1981                          G. Else

                                 B. Holness                                                            D. Foreman

1952-53                     R. Watson                           1982                          R. V. Broadhurst

                                 J. Fisher                                                               R. Oake

1954                          P. Sinden                             1983                          B. J. Burt

                                 M. E. Taylor                                                         E. Russell

1955                          A. Tooth                             1984                          P. Stone

                                 H. Bailey                                                              H. Brocklebank

1957                          P. Sinden                             1985                          P. Bull

                                 M. E. Taylor                                                         D. Slater

1958                          P. Sinden                             1987                          F. Buss

                                 A. P. Shaxted                                                       L. B. Sims

1959                          R. E. Outram                       1988                          R. Harwood

                                 H. Sable                                                               K. C. Harrison

1960                          R. E. Chapman                    1989                          D. Cheeseman

                                 J. Crouch                                                              R. Gallup

1961                          E. C. Jarvis                         1990                          B. J. Burt

                                 E. S. Dunstan                                                       R. Aldred

1962                          M. E. Taylor                        1991                          R. Richfield

                                 E. A. Pearson                                                       J. Lewis

1963                          R. E. Outram                       1992                          A. Cleaver

                                 E. A. Osborne                                                      P. Stone

1964                          E. G. Hann                          1993                          W. Cheeseman

                                 K. L. Lancashire                                                   J. Talbot

1965                          E. C. Jarvis                         1994                          D. Patrick

                                 A. G. A. Rainey                                                    K. C. Harrison

1966                          W. J. Gypps                        1995                          W. Cheeseman

                                 L. A. Clemence                                                    M. Fiander

1967                          J. Crouch                            1996                          A. Griffiths

                                 E. Pattison                                                            T. Ketchin

                                                                            1997                          B. Jolley

                                                                                                             J. Winter

1998                          A. Baldock                          1999                          B. Shairp

                                 J. Talbot                                                               D. Slater

2000                          D. Lewington                      2001                                                 

                                 A. Kemp

 

ROY KING TWO-WOOD (Section 1)

 

1968                          W. H. Cooper                      1986                          J. Atkins

 

1969                          B. J. Burt                            1987                          P. Bowers

 

1970                          W. H. Cooper                      1988                          R. Turner

 

1971                          H. E. Grimwood                  1989                          R. Richfield

 

1972                          W. R. Payne                       1990                          D. Banfield

 

1973                          D. Banfield                          1991                          R. Richfield

 

1974-75                     W. Aldridge                         1992                          D. Banfield

 

1976                          G. Best                               1993                          D. Henning

 

1977                          J. Crouch                            1994-95                      D. Cheeseman

 

1978                          J. Fenner                             1996                          C. Winter

 

1979                          D. Slater                             1997                          A. Morgan

 

1980                          G. Best                               1998                          not completed

 

1981-82                     B. J. Burt                            1999                          D. Henning

 

1983                          B. Jolley                              2000                          E. Mitchell

 

1984                          R. Richfield                         2001

 

1985                          G. H Tucker

 

ROY KING TWO-WOOD (Section 2)

 

1968                          H. W. Coldbreath                1985                          W. Norburn

 

1969                          D. Banfield                          1986                          H. Brocklebank

 

1970                          D. Slater                             1987                          D. Henning

 

1971                          R. Oake                              1988                          J. Lawson

 

1972                          B. Jolley                              1989                          D. G. Staples

 

1973                          G. Best                               1990                          R. Aldred

 

1974                          E. Sharp                              1991                          W. Cheeseman

 

1975                          J. Adams                             1992                          E. Mitchell

 

1976                          E. G. Reeves                       1993                          M. Chapman

 

1977                          S. Saward                           1994                          J. Egan

 

1978                          J. Atkins                              1995                          E. Mitchell

 

1979                          G. H. Tucker                       1996                          A. Roxburgh

 

1980                          R. Chalkin                           1997                          J. Atkins

 

1981                          V. Lane                              1998                          A. Roxburgh

 

1982                          R. Richfield                         1999                          J. Atkins

 

1983                          A. Irving                             2000                          D. Henning

 

1984                          R. Turner

 

ENTERPRISE CUP

 

1998                          D. Slater                             1999                          C. Winter

 

2000                          D. Lewington

 

 

 

LADIES COMPETITIONS (1968 onwards) Other than Championship

 

HANDICAP

 

1960                          V. Jarvis                             1981                          P. Bolam

 

1961                          K. Osborne                         1982                          C. Pateman

 

1963                          M. Hann                             1983                          C. Jolley

 

1964                          D. Miller                             1984                          P. Chandler

 

1965                          K. Osborne                         1985                          E. Tucker

 

1966-67                     O. Green                             1986                          M. Burt

 

1968                          K. Osborne                         1987                          P. Chandler

 

1969                          M. Hann                             1988-89                      V. Staples

 

1970                          E. Wilkins                            1990                          M. Marshall

 

1971                          W. Aldridge                         1991                          C. Jolley

 

1972                          B. Pinchin                           1992                          A. Houghton

 

1973                          G. Bell                                1993                          C. Jolley

 

1974-75                     E. Pearson                          1994                          S. Cresswell

 

1976                          E. Wilkins                            1995                          T. Makin

 

1977                          E. Pearson                          1996                          V. Staples

 

1978                          E. Tucker                            1997                          G. Evans

 

1979                          E. Pearson                          1998                          J. Nash

 

1980                          M. Burt                               1999                          P. Cresswell

 

                                                                            2000                          V. Staples

 

 

KIT MIDDLETON TROPHY

 

1959                          G. Powell                            1967                          G. Powell

                                 L. Dowdall                                                           H. Thompson

1962                          O. Green                             1968                          B. Oake

                                 K. Wells-Brown                                                    I Strivens

1963                          M. Hann                             1969                          B. Oake

                                 H. Preston                                                            H. Thompson

1964                          O. Green                             1970                          E. Cooper

                                 J. Wyn Pugh                                                         D. Melsom

1965                          O. Green                             1971                          B. Miller

                                 E. Bertioli                                                             J. Beisiegal

1966                          D. Miller                             1972                          B. Pinchin

                                 D. London                                                            E. Visser

1988                          M. Burt                               1994                          P. Smith

 

1989                          J. Parish                              1995-96                      J. Hyson

 

1990                          P. Smith                              1997                          E. Tucker

 

1991                          E. Foreman                         1998                          S. Cresswell

 

1992                          D. Chapman                        1999                          E. Tucker

 

1993                          M. Marshall                         2000                          P. Cresswell

                                                                                                            

TWO-WOOD

 

 1961                         M. Lee                                1983                          E. Tucker

 

1962                          E. Cooper                            1984                          J. Parish

 

1963                          J. Monger                            1985                          E. Tucker

 

1964                          B. Holness                          1986                          M. Burt

 

1965                          E. Cooper                            1987                          C. Jolley

 

1966                          E. Pearson                          1988                          S. Gill

 

1967                          M. Hann                             1989                          C. Jolley

 

1968                          G. Bell                                1990                          P. Cresswell

                                                                                                             E. Murphy (P)

1969                          G. Baker                             1991                          C. Jolley

                                                                                                             E. Foreman (P)

1970                          E. Wilkins                            1992                          P. Chandler

                                                                                                             M. Marshall (P)

1971                          B. Pinchin                           1993                          A. Lewis

                                                                                                             B. Croucher (P)

1972                          D. Melsom                          1994                          C. Jolley

                                                                                                             M. Marshall (P)

1973-74                     E. Wilkins                            1995                          V. Staples

                                                                                                             E. Tucker (P)

1975-77                     E. Pearson                          1996                          J. Dickenson

                                                                                                             C. Jolley (P)

1978                          J. Parish                              1997                          V. Staples

 

1979-80                     M. Burt                               1998                          S. Cresswell

 

1981                          E. Tucker                            1999                          J. Dickenson

 

1982                          M. Burt                               2000                          V. Staples

 

 

MILLER CUP

 

1969                          B. Oake                              1974                          E. Pearson

                                 M. Lee                                                                 P. Adams

                                 J. Parish                                                               J. Parish

1970                          J. Monger                            1975                          S. Gill

                                 W. Holman

                                 J. Parish

1971                          K. Osborne                         1976                          P. Bolam

                                 M. Lee                                                                 K. Middleton

                                 I. Strivens

1973                          B. Oake

                                 W. Aldridge

                                 P. Quinlan

1977                          K. Middleton                       1989-90                      V. Staples

 

1978                          E. Pearson                          1991                          P. Chandler

 

1979                          G. I. Robertson                    1992                          M. Marshall

 

1980                          S. Gill                                  1993                          S. Burton        

1981                          E. Pearson                          1994                          P. Chandler

 

1982                          M. Burt                               1995                          J. Hyson

 

1983                          C. Jolley                              1996                          C. Jolley

 

1984                          C. Pateman                         1997                          M. Dawes

 

1985                          E. Pearson                          1998                          C. Jolley

 

1986                          C. Jolley                              1999                          M. Dawes

 

1987                          V. Staples                           2000                          H. Chapman

 

1988                          E. Tucker                           

                                

 

LADIES PAIRS

 

1973                          G. Bell                                1987                          P. Chandler

                                 P. Quinlan                                                            H. Chapman

1974                          E. Wilkins                            1988                          E. Tucker

                                 P. Quinlan                                                            S. G. Richardson

1975                          E. Wilkins                            1989                          E. Tucker

                                 G. Robertson                                                        V. Willmott

1976                          E. Wilkins                            1990                          S. Gill

                                 S. Gill                                                                   P. Cresswell

1977                          J. Parish                              1991                          J. Budd

                                 M. Urquhart                                                         V. Staples

1978                          P. Adams                            1992                          M. Holland

                                 E. Pearson                                                            B. Croucher

1979                          M. Burt                               1993                          M. Evans        

                                 S. Gill                                                                   H. Chapman

1980                          V. Winter                            1994                          J. Hughes        

                                 M. Taylor                                                             S. Burton

1981                          D. Melsom                          1995                          J. Cooper

                                 P. Quinlan                                                            S. Cresswell

1982                          J. Parish                              1996                          L. Wolstenholme

                                 C. Jolley                                                               M. Marshall

1983                          P. Bolam                             1997                          V. Staples

                                 P. Chandler                                                          J. Cooper

1984                          D. Melsom                          1998                          M Forsyth

                                 P. Quinlan                                                            S. Cresswell

1985                          R. Harwood                        1999                          T. Makin

                                 S. Gill                                                                   H. Chapman

1986                          P. Chandler                         2000                          A. Houghton

                                 J. Price                                                                 R. Harwood

 

                                                                           

 

 

100 UP

 

1990                          C. Jolley                              1996                          S. Burton

 

1991-92                     E. Tucker                            1997                          P. Chandler

 

1993                          V. Staples                           1998                          V. Staples

 

1994                          S. Cresswell                        1999                          J. Nash

 

1995                          M. Marshall                         2000                          H. Chapman

 

MIXED PAIRS

 

1977                          Miss H. Preston                   1989                          Mrs E. Tucker

                                 J. Adams                                                              C. Richardson

1978                          Mrs K. Middleton                1990                          Mrs R. Harwood

                                 E. H. Sharp                                                          E. Cresswell

1979                          Mrs P. Adams                     1991                          Mrs S. Cresswell

                                 D. Banfield                                                           M. Murch

1980                          Mrs W. Holman                   1992                          Mrs B. Croucher

                                 A. Lott                                                                 D. Henning

1981                          Mrs R. Bootle                      1993                          Mrs P. Wasley

                                 D. Cheeseman                                                      E. Mitchell

1982                          Mrs M. Burt                        1994                          Mrs J. Nash

                                 B. J. Burt                                                             J. McCarthy

1983                          Mrs E. Tucker                     1995                          Mrs P. Holt

                                 G. H. Tucker                                                        D. Cheeseman

1984                          Mrs J. Price                        1996                          Mrs J. Hughes

                                 R. Turner                                                             C. Winter

1985                          Mrs C. Jolley                       1997                          M. Jordan

                                 B. Jolley                                                               E. Mitchell

1986                          Mrs M. Burt                        1998                          Mrs P. Mitchell

                                 B. J. Burt                                                             D. Chapman

1987                          Mrs C. Jolley                       1999                          J. Dickenson

                                 D. Banfield                                                           P. Gorringe

                                                                                                             P. Haden-Scott

1988                          Mrs E. Tucker                     2000                          Mrs C. Jolley

                                 M. Chapman                                                         G. Burch

 

ENTERPRISE CUP

 

1998                          M. Burch                            1999                          R. Harwood

 

2000                          J. Hyson

                                

                                

 

                                                                           

                                                                                                              

PROFILES OF PLAYERS (Extracts taken from Sevenoaks News & Sevenoaks Chronicle, written by George Else and updated)

 

BILL GYPPS

Sevenoaks Bowling Club’s press secretary George Else, produced a series of personal profiles on members of the club, for use during the close season. His first choice was 80 year old Bill Gypps. 

Rockdale resident Bill joined the Sevenoaks Bowling Club in 1923, and still enjoyed an active bowling life, both indoors and outdoors in 1975.

He is a well – known figure to all local businessmen, being chief public health officer to Sevenoaks UDC for 29 years and having spent 45 years altogether in local government.  He retired in 1959 and in 1967 moved to Birchington from whence he returned, to live in Sevenoaks once again, in 1973.

So Bill is now back playing for his old club where he has given fine service over the years.  He was secretary from 1932 until 1945, and was presented with an illuminated address, for his long service, in this capacity.

He was captain from 1949 – 1951 and reached the final honour of being elected President in 1954, an office he filled for four years.  During this time, and for a record 21 years, he was also the club’s executive member to the Kent County Divisional Committee.

All the older members will well remember his prowess, as a fine competitive bowler; 1932 would appear to have been his finest year.  It was then that he was a finalist in three great competitions, the Kent County Fours, The Kent County Triples and the Open Tournament Fours at Hastings.

He was selected and played for the county in the Middleton Cup competition in 1934. Also, his was the first name to be engraved on the Simmonds Hospital Cup when this competition was introduced.

His name can be seen many times on the club honours board, not only as Secretary, captain and president but several times as winner or runner – up in the various club competitions, which included the championship, the Heard Trophy, the pairs and triples.

Bill has seen the club grow from a membership of 24 in 1923 to its present prosperity of catering for 140 men & ladies on its full size greens.

He is on record as saying “We have the one of the best greens in the county and we are greatly envied. Our Ladies Section (Mrs Gypps is a prominent member) also deserves praise.  It works well in harmony with the men’s and is a great asset to the club.”

 

 

 

 

TERRY JORDAN (1973)

 

It was easy to recognise Mr Terry Jordan as a bank manager, so” graciously” refusing his best friend the smallest overdraft. For “kindly,”  “gracious” and “extremely clever” was this retired bank manager and these are the adjectives which come to mind when describing this quiet and perfect gentleman who has just retired as President of the Sevenoaks Bowling Club, the office he held for three years.

Terry had recently moved and together with his most charming wife was finding a new and exciting experience of village life in Riverhead.  He had a daughter and a son, both married the latter being a top, senior civil servant with the Ministry of the Environment.

Terry started work at the Parr ‘s Bank in the City in 1913 and he still had one of the quill pens that he was given on his first day there. He had related how pumice powder and chamois leather had to be used to prepare the surface of the parchment, before writing with the quill pen.  Parr’s Bank later became incorporated into the Westminster Bank.

As a quiet young man he served with Royal Marines during the First World War, mostly in the Mediterranean area.  He joined Sidcup Bowling Club and became its match secretary and when he left the club he was granted the “Freedom of the Sidcup Green”.

He was a member of the Banks bowling Association and played over 200 games for them. He participated in ten tours with the Association and played bowls in every county south of the Thames except for Cornwall.

Terry’s wife, Annie, also played bowls and represented Hampshire county ladies team continuously during the 30’s and in 1937 was the winner in both the county rinks and county triples. She lived to the great age of 97 and passed away in 1966.

Terry Jordan came to live in Sevenoaks in 1955 and joined the Sevenoaks club in 1956.  He soon made his mark and was elected vice – captain in 1958 and was captain of the club in 1959.  He went on to act as captain in charge of the Wednesday team for a futher nine years and in that capacity was always efficient and very popular with all the members.

He always enjoyed his bowls although he could not boast of winning many medals. He was proud to be a winner of the Simmonds Cup in 1957, especially as he had acted as Treasurer for that organisation for 14 years and had the pleasure of sending cheques annually to the local hospital charities.

Terry had a full and interesting life and in his earlier years had played cricket, badminton and football. He was keen on fencing and played a fine game of snooker. His main hobbies included silversmithing, cabinet making and bookbinding.

He believed that “ there was no greater game than bowls, as it could be enjoyed by all ages.  Good fellowship was the essence of the game and the Sevenoaks Club had one of the best greens in the County. He enjoyed every minute of his time with the club.

Terry passed away on the 24^th February 1975.

 

 

ERIC REEVES (1974)

 

Eric Reeves, is the new President of the Sevenoaks Bowling Club. He replaces Terry Jordan who has been a tower of strength in this capacity but who felt that at 80 he should give way to a younger man.

Eric has done yeoman service at the club as secretary for 12 years. In his initial address as President said, “that little did he think that when he joined the club 23 years ago, that one day he would hold the proud position of President”.

Eric had served as Churchwarden for many years at St John’s Church and is also respected at Stanley Berwick Ltd where he worked for 40 years and is a General Foreman there.

When he became President the Sevenoaks bowlers and their wives attended a gathering at the pavilion at Hollybush Lane to celebrate his appointment. In his welcoming address, after thanking the assembled company for attending on such a cold evening, went on to relate how the facilities at the pavilion had changed in his 23 years as a member, mainly through the unstinting efforts of past and present members. he went on to speak affectionately of several persons who had passed on and who he described as real characters.

Mrs Reeves was at the party. They had three children and three grandchildren. Their eldest son was a parson, living in Doncaster, the teen – age son would one day make a fine bowler and daughter, Rosalie, was the only one married.

 

TED CORDERY

 

Sevenoaks Bowling Club’s first honorary Vice – President, Ted Cordery, was one of the hard – working body of men who transformed the old bowls pavilion into today’s fine structure.

It was during the closed season of 1957/58 that the transformation took place, from the old cresoted, open fronted barn. The members themselves carried out the change. Ted Cordery took charge of the décor and attended regularly with his paint pots between seasons and with the other dedicated few, kept the building in a delightful condition.

Ted was not only a painter and decorator, but being a member of the house committee for some years, he has been involved in building the units in the kitchen,  at the rear of the building, and in the bar.  For his services in this respect he was elected as the very first honorary vice – president.

Ted was born into a bowling family in 1904.  Ben Cordery was an even better bowler than his son, having won his county badge, something Ted aspired to in his younger days but never achieved.

As a young lad of 16, Ted was often at hand, mowing the green or helping with the heavy roller, but it was not until 1950 that he became a member of the club and was captain in 1962 and 1963.

He still takes charge of the Wednesday team and is an efficient and popular leader. He was bar chairman in 1958 and continued to look after the liquid needs of the members for some years.

Some of the trophies that he won include the Rinks Challenge Cup 1954, the Heard Trophy in 1960, Outram Pairs runner – up in 1966 and the Simmonds Cup in 1968 and 1973. Ted was a successful league side in 1968 and has a plaque for the losing side in the 1971 final.

Ted started his career as a coach painter and was an apprentice with the late Mr Humphries at Caffyns. He continued this occupation in several places until 1934 when he became responsible for the maintenance work on the Wickenden Estate. During the war he did important government work with the Sevenoaks Department of the CRE, and was also attached to Headquarters, Home Guard.

The bowls club is also indebted to his wife Alice, who since 1954 has been providing teas for the bowlers on match days. In this many of the other ladies, including Ted’s sister, Mrs Flo Sharp have ably assisted her. Alice is one of the most popular persons attached to the club.

When George Else called on Ted at his home he would, quite often, find him in his greenhouse, for he was a very keen gardener and his small but neat garden would be a blaze of colour for most of the year.

Before the war he was a keen billiards and snooker player and took part in the tournaments at the Constitutional Club. He is a member of the Crystal Palace Indoor Bowling Green and plays there regularly. He regrets like many others, that there are no facilities for indoor bowling in Sevenoaks.  He says, “If only one knew what a friendly and wonderfully relaxing game it was, one would, like me, wish they had started playing bowls sooner.

 

TOM MARSHALL (1975)

 

Tom Marshall was the first chairman of the Sevenoaks Triples League, when it was formed in 1968, in recognition of his efforts in forming the league with George Else. He would have held the post for much longer had he not insisted on changing the chairman each year, from different clubs. This took effect in 1970.

Tom was born in Tunbridge Wells in 1897, where his father had a building business. In his youth he was a keen swimmer and a member of Tunbridge Wells Men’s Swimming Club. He was in the team that twice won the water polo league.  His daughter, who resides in Eastbourne, is also a fine swimmer and was chosen to swim for Kent. Before taking up bowls Tom played a good game of cricket and was a member of Tye’s team (Local Builders)

Tom married in 1922 and celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary in 1972. His wife Gladys has assisted him regularly in providing teas for the bowlers after matches. They came to live in Sevenoaks in 1936.

He was a member of the league team in 1969 when they were runners – up, and again in 1971 when the Sevenoaks “B” team lost to the Sevenoaks “A” team in the final.  His other accomplishments on the bowling green, since joining the club in 1952 include being winner of the Simmonds Hospital Cup in 1959 and 1963, Tunbridge Wells Open Triples winner 1964, club mixed pairs runner – up in 1965 and winner of the same competition in 1968.

Tom served as captain in 1973 and 1974.  He carried this duty well and his election was a fitting tribute for the services he had rendered over many years. Even before he thought of taking up the game, while acting as General Foreman for Tye’s of Sevenoaks, it was he who had helped to build the original pavilion in 1928.  Naturally, he was at hand in 1958 to assist with the extensive alterations carried out by the members.

He served his apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner and learned all the facets of the building trade.  He went on to become a building and maintenance inspector with the Sevenoaks Urban District Council and enjoyed the position until he retired in 1962.

During the First World War he joined the Flying Corps and later served the RAF in Civil Defence and was also a Rescue Instructor at the Regional Training School in Tunbridge Wells.

One of the most remarkable things about Tom Marshall was that he had lost an eye, when he was a young lad, when he collided with a door handle.  Nobody ever mentioned this and Tom lived with the sight of one eye for the rest of his life.  He did not let it affect him one bit.

Tom moved down to Sussex, in his later years, to reside with his daughter but kept his interest in the Sevenoaks League and attended the 25^th Anniversary celebration of its foundation at Hollybush Lane.  He presented a fine silver cup for the Marshall Cup Competition.

Tom passed away on the 28^th July 1994 at the age of 97.

 

BERT STONLEY (1975)

 

Bert Stonley was born in 1906, in Tunbridge Wells and spent his first 52 years there. It was at the Calverly Grounds that he first worked on bowling greens and that was when that particular green was laid in 1923.  He is extremely expert in re - levelling turf, and this he had to do at Calverly, then later transferred to Culverden Tunbridge Wells green and did the same fine job there.

He not only continued to grow in stature as one of the finest greenkeepers in Kent, but he enlarged the somewhat small Culverden green to full – size.

His reputation spread to Sevenoaks and in 1958 he was appointed Parks Superintendent to the Sevenoaks UDC.  At this time, the Hollybush Lane green was in a poor condition.  All the improvements that have taken place, since his arrival, to make this one of the finest in the county can be attributed to strenuous and diligent work put in by Bert Stonley, in those early days when he came to live in Sevenoaks.

His advice, and in many cases, his help, have been given to at least 14 local bowling clubs, regarding the improvement of their playing surfaces.

The Sevenoaks Bowling Club has been fortunate, inasmuch as he has not only improved their green, but he is a fine competitive bowler, and on his retirement in 1971, for his devoted services to the club, he was presented with an inscribed silver tankard and made an Honorary Life Member.

His prowess as a bowler is proved in the number of trophies he has won over the years.  Club Champion in 1968, and runners – up in 1970, mixed pair finalist in 1969 and 1971 and mixed pair winner in 1970 and 1972 with Doris Melsom as his partner.

Heard Trophy finalist in1971, Maidstone Open Tournament finalist in 1959, runner – up in the NALGO competition in1964, Franklin Ames Rose Bowl in 1972, Sevenoaks Triples winner in 1966 and Simmonds Hospital Cup winner in 1959.

His son Tony has followed in father’s footsteps, having also taken up greenkeeping.

He learnt the job under his father at Sevenoaks and then went on to take charge of the then new green at Southborough and is now elevated to General Parks Foreman for Tunbridge Wells District Council.

Like father, all sports come easily to Tony, and he was Kent Singles Champion in 1963, he reached the quarter finals, no mean feat, in 1961 and the semi finals in 1973.

Bert Stonley was called up for war service in 1942 and was wounded twice at El Alemein.  He still carries shrapnel in his leg and lost a finger from his right hand.

Having been captain at cricket and football while at school, he continued playing these and took up tennis as well. It was when he was serving in Egypt with the Eighth Army that he numbered among his many well-known sporting friends, Tom Finney, the Preston plumber who played on the wing for England, and Bertie Mee the Arsenal Manager.

Bert said: “After playing all kinds of outdoor sports and some 50 years working and playing on the bowling green, I am convinced that bowls is the best value for money,as bowls equipment lasts for many years. It is less strenuous than most games and one can play for seven days a week. The Sevenoaks Bowling Club is is by far the largest in this part of Kent, and with its excellent facilities and wonderful scenery across Knole Park it is no wonder the KCBA has chosen to play their finals there four times in the past twelve years”. He went on to say that his only regret was, that when Roy King was a member and was prepared to back an indoor green undertaking, support from the right direction was not forthcoming. Had this come about Sevenoaks would have the focal point for winter for some miles around.

 

BERT GRIMWOOD (1975)

 

Bert Grimwood, the new President of Sevenoaks Bowling Club is most worthy of this honour. Bert was captain of the club in 1971 – 1972 and had been the representative on the County Executive since 1969. In addition to these duties he is well known for his compassion and kindness, for the well – being of others, especially in carrying out his other office of sick visitor.

He was born at Stansted in Kent, in 1902 and married Rhoda in 1927.  They have two sons.  Dennis works for a helicopter firm in the West Country and Michael, who is an export manager, travels frequently to