Bodmin
Bowls Club was conceived during 1921 when 30 "burgesses" pledged
amounts of between £3 and £5 to form a bowling club. With the money
they leased a corner of a field at an annual rent of £5 from Mr J.B.
Collins. W.T. Balsdon, a Bodmin contractor, laid the green at a cost of
£169. The first game was played on the green on 21st June 1922.
The
first pavilion was built in 1924 by Mr Walter Bennett at a cost of £58.
From that day the club ticked along with the average membership of 35.
Like the Windmill Theatre it kept open during the war although travel
to away matches was difficult.
In
1958 the landlord wanted to put the rent up from £5 to £15 per annum.
In the end a decision was taken to buy the freehold for £300 which
involved a considerable debt.
Among
the returning servicemen in 1945 was a journalist called Charles Dean.
He became the inspiration for much of the progress made by the club in
the sixties and seventies.
During
the sixties the club negotiated with the Bodmin Borough Council for a
municipal green in Priory Park. After 7 years of haggling the scheme
was abandoned.
In 1970 the
club President Frank Burrows offered to pay £2,250 for a new
pre-fabricated pavilion provided the members erected it themselves.
This was achieved and the pavilion was ready for the 1971 season.
A
year later, with a great act of faith, the indoor green was constructed
at a cost of £36,500. Mr Dean's notes do not make it clear whether this
included such things as the playing surface and heating system. What is
clear is that his tireless work produced several grants from the Sports
Council and Local Councils and individual loans from members. The
indoor green was ready for play for the indoor season 1972/73 and was
the first in the County.
During
the eighties a group of people re-opened a bowling green at St.
Lawrence's Hospital. It was soon popular with the staff and many
friendly matches were arranged. When it closed for development of the
site nearly all members transferred to Bodmin B.C. This boosted the
membership to around 100 and it is still over 80. This figure includes
lady members as the women's section of the club was formed with an
original membership of 18 in 1968.
A Bit of History and
Other Points of Interest in and around Bodmin
Visitors
to Bodmin Bowls Club should be aware of two nearby attractions. Within
100m of the club we have the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry museum and
the Bodmin-Wenford steam railway.
Bodmin
was the garrison town of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI)
and the museum is based in the former keep. It contains an outstanding
collection of militaria.
The
Bodmin-Wenford steam railway is based on the former GWR Bodmin Station.
Steam railway rides along the former GWR branch line to Bodmin Road
(Parkway) and along the former GWR-Southern railway link to Boscarne
Junction can be enjoyed.
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Our
Club badge depicts King Athelstan who granted Bodmin its first Charter
as a town in the 10th Century. Athelstan was the 1st King of all
England and reigned between 925 and 940.
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