Herne Bay Bowling Club was formed on January 21st, 1926 at a meeting convened by a Founder Member, Sydney Keen, who had been instrumental in persuading the Herne Bay Urban District Council to lay down a bowling green in 1925. The green was laid with Cumberland turf by Messrs. J & D Provern of Glasgow and was opened on June 25th, 1926 by the H.B.U.D.C. Chairman, Councillor T. Whiffen. Mr J. Edwards, Vice Chairman of the Kent County Bowling Association, who said that a Bowling Green was one of the finest assets a town, and especially a seaside town could have because it resulted in making so many friends.

The opening, which was attended by a very large crowd, was followed by a match against a team led by the Chairman of the K.C.B.A., Percy Snow of Margate. Not surprisingly, the fledging club was beaten by the K.C.B.A. by 184 shots to 79, losing on all six rinks. In 1930, the new Pavilion was erected and opened. The photograph (below left) shows the first match played following the opening.

     

In 1931, a second green was laid and the following year the Pavilion was extended to include a Committee Room and a Ladies' Room, which is now the kitchen. The Ladies' Section was formed in 1938 with Mrs F.G. Woolfe as its first Secretary. In March 1949 the Club took over the control of the greens and premises on a 7 year lease. This has been continually renewed and currently operates for a 50 year period.

The laying of the second green in 1931, enabled the Club to stage their first Open Pairs Tournament in August of the following year. The photograph (above right) shows the Captain and President, A.W. Woolf, welcoming competitors to that inaugural tournament. The tournament proved a great success and a Singles and Pairs Open Tournament was staged in 1933 and continued to be held each year until the outbreak of war in 1939.

Kent Reliance Building Society first sponsored the Open Tournament in 1981 when the tournament was expanded to include a Mixed Pairs competition. Herne Bay Bowling Club also host a Men's Triples event in June. A two week Open Tournament is organised during August and September and we wind up the tournament season with a Mixed Triples competition in September. All the tournaments have proved very popular and attract competitors not only from the southeast, but also from the rest of the country.

 

 

The club now has a thriving Under 25 Section and the Open Tournament now incorporates both an Under 25 Singles and Pairs. Believed to be one of the first tournaments of its kind in the country, it is one of a number of steps the club is taking to attract more youngsters to the sport. The above picture shows competitors for the first Under 25 Open Singles in 2005.

Winners of the Mollie Cleggett Trophy

9th September 2007

 

Back: Barbara Morris, Celia Barnes, Joyce Whitlock, Ellen Foster, Ann Moon and Chris Benneworth
Front: Eunice Holder, Pat Douglas, Maggie Dury and Marian Algar

 

East Kent Finals Winners 2005
Back: George Moon, Brian Gisby, Ian Robb, Ray Chipperfield, Joe Kelly, Joe Barnes, Dave Pennington.
Front: Bill Robb, Harry Algar, Scott Whiting, Bob Baldwin, Robbie Irons.