The History Of The Shefford Bowls Club

In 1964 a general meeting was called at the Shefford Town Memorial Association (STMA) with a view to forming a bowls club in Shefford. The meeting was well attended and from it a steering committee was formed with their main objection to raise money for the project. The STMA agreed to allow land to be used for a bowling green. A few meeting were held, and after a while many of the original members fell by the wayside. A new bowls committee was formed with Mr. J R Ford as President and Mr F A G Brunt as Chairman.

A Beds Executive member, Len Davidge, was invited to give advice. Raising the money was the biggest problem, and a working committee was formed to canvass Shefford for donations, in all £78 was raised this being the amount that Shefford Bowls Club started with. Mr. Alf Taylor and Mr. Bob Johns (STMA Officials) secured a grant of £500 from the Playing Fields Association. Various fund raising events were run until enough money was raised to start the project. The then Barclay’s manager (John Bird) thought it was ridiculous to start a project of this size with so little money. En Tou Cas of Leicester laid the green using “Hill side turf” that being the best the budget would allow. It gave a few problems but patience and hard work by members have overcome these and we now have a bowling green and facilities to be proud of.

Probably the most unique event of the club, is that in 1988 the club provided Bedfordshire Bowling Association with both Men’s and Ladies Presidents these being John and Brenda Ford. Over the years improvements and additional facilities have been made to the green most if not all of the work being carried out by members of the club.

The current club has a membership of 60 men and women. The season runs from the end of April until the end of September. The club welcomes new members and offers free coaching to new bowlers as well as additional coaching to existing ones. The club is proud of its friendly spirit and runs social evenings throughout the winter months to enable members to keep in touch.

The club secretary is Alison Hammond for information on the club or how to join etc please contact her on 01462 811548 or email alisonr.hammond@btinternet.co