- An Introduction to the Club
The Club was formed in the year 1911 as a Men's Bowling Club continuing as such until the formation of a Ladies' Section in the year 1933. The sections remained as separate entities until becoming fully integrated in recent years. Whereas the Ladies and Gentlemen always played separately in earlier years one will now see on occasions mixed teams being fielded as is becoming the norm for many local clubs. That doesn't mean there is a lack of competition between the Ladies and the Gentlemen, far from it; Two competitions are played against each other every year which are keenly contested but with a lot of friendly and sporting banter between the Ladies and Gentlemen.
Over the years we have had many members who have remained with the club for most of their playing days and then stayed on as social members when they found the bowling surface seemed further away than it used to be and the jacks all seemed to be of maximum length on a green which was a lot slower than it was thirty years ago! Some of these friends became life members of the club, not just for the number of years they were members but for sevices to the club over the years. Presently we have just three life members, Mr. William (Bill) Tonkin; Mrs. Dorothy (Dot) Boulton and Mr. Alan Howes. Sadly, three others of our life membership died in the recent past; Mr. Charles (Charlie) Porter, Mr. Harry Thorpe, well remembered by most bowlers in the Bromley and Beckenham area, and beyond, and Mrs. Doris Head.
But what of today, who are our current Club Officers and our Club Champions? Click on the appropriate links above to find out.