Chilton Bowls Club

Opened in 1920, Chilton Bowls Clubs was said, at the time, to be one of the best in the county.

Not only because of the quality of the bowling green surface but also because of the impressive club that was attached (later to become The Poacher’s Pocket).

However, for some reason, after the war, interest in bowls decreased, the bowling stopped, and the green was left to deteriorate.

It wasn’t until the early 1980s that Ted Walker, after his retirement, worked on restoring the green and, by the end of the decade, had brought it back to playing condition.

The Chilton Club had continued to thrive during this time, albeit no longer bowling and several former members showed an interest in playing bowls again, and that was the start of the present-day club. The founder members included Norma and John Rolfe, Terry and Wyn Sparks, Ted Walker, and Les Willey, as well as several people from surrounding villages who were all members of the Chilton Club.

It proved to be very successful, and in the early 1990s, the bowling club decamped to the bottom lawn (which had been the tennis court) and continued to play whilst the bowling green was ripped up, automatic watering installed and a new bowling green laid with the help of money raised through fundraising events and a lot of hard work.

These pictures show the work being carried out during that time.

Removing old green and levelling

Starting irrigation

Laying irrigation pipes

Turf is here

Levelling the top

Starting to turf

Great job!

Since then, the green has been well used, and the club now runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the summer and has over thirty active players, making up seven teams of four. There are also several reserves who play in knockout competitions as well as being available to step in the full teams when necessary.

The opening tournament normally takes place in late April / early May, depending on the weather.

There are singles and pairs knockout tournaments throughout the season and they have even had a mixed pair league on Sunday afternoons.

The green is well used and maintenance is key to keeping the green in tip-top condition. Many members volunteer their time to help keep up the maintenance, mowing, treating the grass and generally keeping it in good condition.

During the winter months, when it is too wet to use the outdoor bowling green (and also too cold), many of the players continue their sport by taking part in Indoor Bowls.

This initative started towards the end of the 1990s whilst the Chilton Club was still open and built an indoor area on the first floor of The Poacher’s Pocket. Starting as a diagonal mat across the floor ( to get the length they needed), soon the club ripped up the existing floor and replaced it with a new wooden floor. they also split the existing stage so that it could be lifted apart to create the room for two indoor mats, each one forty five feet by six feet.

However, when the pub closed, the facility was lost and the players now play in Tiddington Village Hall.

David Beard Bowling.2

So why not give it a go? It’s a fun game of skill that takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.

You can call club secretary Wyn Sparks on 07860 253336, or why not pop along anytime they are playing and have a chat with one of the friendly people who are always there?