Saltash Bowling Club: One Hundred Years Old and Still Growing

The Cornish town of Saltash sits on the banks of the river Tamar, which marks the boundary with Devon (writes Helen Neville). It’s the first town you reach as you travel south across the county border, either via the Tamar road bridge or over Brunel’s Royal Albert Rail Bridge.
One hundred years ago, there was no road link, and visitors arrived by ferryboat or steam train.
So, in 1923, when the newly formed Saltash Bowling Club (SBC) held its inaugural match, the gentlemen bowlers from Plymouth’s Devonport Park Bowling Club arrived by train before parading though the town accompanied by the town band, the Mayor and other dignitaries.
The original minutes from the first meeting reveal the Mayor was asked to be club president.
Roll forward 100 years and it was fitting that SBC’s centenary celebrations culminated in a rerun of that first competitive match – though this year the visitors arrived by car, with the town band playing beside the clubhouse and Mayor of Saltash meeting them at the green. Ladies from Plymouth CityBus came too to make up the mixed squad.
This was the final of five special ‘birthday’ events beginning with a visit from a Bowls England squad in May. Next came a team from Bowls Cornwall; then Friends of English Bowling; after that Group two (our Cornish area); then finally the rerun against Devonport Park.
Every SBC player was given the opportunity to play in at least one of those matches, and gifted a small memento of the day. Each celebratory game was followed by a meal in the clubhouse, provided by the in-house catering team. Several past members and life members were invited to join with players in the post-match sit-down meals, including Audrey Quick, our most senior member at 95-years-old.
A fly past by two Spitfires from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was sadly cancelled at short notice as high winds made their planned landing further into Cornwall too difficult.
Born in the same year as the Disney Corporation, SBC was formed as a men’s club on the edge of Longstone Park, in the heart of the town, where it has remained ever since. A ladies’ section was launched in 1964, and eventually the two were merged.
Today the club boasts around 100 members, hosts a wintertime short mat club and has a strong social programme. The green and clubhouse are fully self-maintained, free coaching is available and visiting players are welcome. Colourful new sports shirts have been created to celebrate the centenary year.
Many SBC players have become county champions and gone on to the annual Bowls England National Finals at Royal Leamington Spa, and some regularly play for Cornwall against other counties.
Notable national successes include Darren Woolner, England junior international 2002-03, Mark Woolner, Commonwealth Games umpire in 2002 and 2006 and Steve Cook, Visually Impaired Bowls England international singles gold medal winner in 2016.
Both the men and ladies’ teams compete in local and county leagues; this year the ladies topped the Border League and won promotion in the Plymouth and District League while the men’s A team won their ‘Group 2 East’ League.
Each year, the club president nominates a charity as a focus for fundraising; recent beneficiaries have included Versus Arthritis and a youth music project. This summer, the sum of £650 was given to a local youth club skills workshop.
While being very proud of its history, SBC members are keen to ensure the club continues to thrive in the decades ahead. For the past two years, youngsters from local primary schools have benefitted from a weekly summer coaching programme, with some success in the Cornwall School Games. It’s hoped an after-school club can be established next season.
Nationally younger players are increasingly finding success at county and national level – maybe there are some future stars in Saltash waiting to be discovered?

FOOTNOTE:

If your club is celebrating a milestone anniversary and would like to be featured in Bowls International, please contact editor Ceris Hewlings at: ceris.hewlings@keypublishing.com

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