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Welcome to Southgate Park Bowls Club - A brief history of the club
In the 1960’s, the Post Office Sports and Social Club participated in football, cricket, darts, snooker and table tennis. In the mid-Seventies, it was able to extend these interests to include bowls - firstly indoors at the Crawley Leisure Centre and then outdoors following the opening of a new bowling green at Southgate Park. Members of the club quickly took advantage of these new facilities for “roll ups” and those new to the game were encouraged by members with previous experience from the existing bowls club.
In 1978 we had sufficient support to form a Committee of Post Office employees, led by Frank Keiller as Chairman. George Bridger as Secretary, Helen Barnbrook as Treasurer and Joan Gasson as Match Secretary. One of the most important decisions taken at that time was to extend membership to relatives and friends of Post Office people and, for example, this allowed Helen to bring in Arthur, Roger and Harold Barnbrook and for Frank to bring in Eileen Keiller.
In 1979 the first fixture list was drawn up with 32 games against other clubs. The 45 founder members became the first recognised bowls club to use the green at Southgate park. Sadly that year we lost Chairman Frank, so an EGM was called in August at which the new Club Committee was elected - Chairman: Cyril Botterill, Secretary and Captain Roger Barnbrook, Treasurer: Arthur Barnbrook, Vice Captain: Ted Wakeman, 2nd Vice Captain: Fred Tippett, and Committee Members George Bridger, Charlie Hill, and Eddie Maynard.
At that time, affiliation to the Sussex County Bowling Association was conditional that decisions should be taken by Male members only, and the Sussex woman's Bowling Association had a similar rule on decisions by Female members only for clubs seeking affiliation to them! Nevertheless, we applied for affiliation to both of the County Associations and the Mid Sussex League, all of which were approved. Until mixed committees became acceptable in later years, our Committee Meetings were joined by an elected club “ Ladies representative”.
Club Rules were drawn up for approval and printed for us by Bert White; newsletters kept members informed; Inter Club Competitions and Trophies were arranged. Permission was granted for Club Members to wear the official “Royal Mail” Tie and an associated Cravat was produced for the Ladies. A Blazer Badge was designed by Harold Barnbrook and supplies arranged for members. Our first entries were made for County and the Mid Sussex League, and we were represented in the Stewart Oxley, the Simmonds Cup and Horley Triples Competitions.
We were able to host visiting teams in the restaurant and bar at the top adjacent brick pavilion. This was run by Bob who leased the accommodation from the Council. We were looked after very well and some say Bob’s teas helped us extend our Fixture List! Sadly the restaurant was later closed which caused us some difficulties in providing teas.
Fortunately, thanks to the considerable efforts of some members of our club together with others from the Hawth and the Downsman, this problem was solved when, in 1996, we were able to share in the cost and use of a newly built pavilion by the green.
Gradually however the number of club members with a Post Office background diminished and a decision was taken at the AGM in 2002 to reflect this by changing the Club’s name to Southgate Park Bowls Club from the 2003 season. It was hoped that this would also encourage new members.
We were fortunate to have the help of enthusiastic members in launching the original Post Office Bowls Club and we place on record our thanks to over 200 members who have joined, played and supported us over the past 25 outdoor seasons. Many of those members have made an outstanding contribution to our club both in its running and on the green itself. Together we have maintained a good club, opening up the opportunity for us to enjoy friendships and happy days on the outdoor bowling greens.
This article was written by Cyril Botterill
(Founder Member, Past President and Chairman)
Cyril is a Life Member of Southgate Park Bowls Club