Surrey County Bowling Associations

 

Surrey County Bowling Association - now Bowls Surrey

On 15th March 1911, a group of enthusiastic and voluntary club representatives met in a smoke-filled room at the Falcon Hotel, Clapham Junction, under the Chairmanship of HR Selley (South London), later to become Sir Harry Selley MP. That meeting represented the foundation of the Surrey County Bowling Association. W H Graham (Temple) was also present; he would be the new body’s first Secretary.

The County is divided into 4 Areas & each Area is divided into 2 Divisions. There are now 126 Clubs in Surrey.

Bowls Surrey is the result of the integration of the Surrey County Bowling Association (SCBA) and the Surrey County Women’s Bowling Association (SCWBA). Bowling in Surrey has a long tradition. Its first clubs included Croydon founded in 1749, Boileau (1850), Clapham Ramblers (1876) and 16 other clubs founded before SCBA came into being in 1911. Sadly, few of these early clubs still exist. But Surrey still has 126 Clubs and a combined membership of over 6000.

Bowls Surrey has a mixed environment geographically. Its boundaries include the old boroughs of South London up to the Thames and stretch down to the rural heathlands of Haslemere and Camberley. It is a lively environment, Bowls Surrey is a key part of the Home Counties, it participates in National Competitions including Middleton Cup (18 times) and Johns Trophy (23 times winner). It has a keen and active management committee committed to supporting the best of Bowling to all comers whether they are social bowlers in it for companionship and a bit of fun, or adrenaline fuelled competitors out to win their County badge or even the National Championship at Leamington. Bowls Surrey acts as the conduit between Bowls England and Surrey based Clubs, it seeks to represent those clubs in the best way possible and to keep those clubs fully up to date in National and International information and guidance.

 

Surrey County Past Presidents Association

 

The Surrey County Men’s Past Presidents Bowling Association (SCMPPBA) is a separate

entity to the Surrey County BA but is covered by the Constitution and General Byelaws of the Surrey County BA as, and where, applicable.

 

The SCMPPBA has two classes of Membership,

 

1. Full Membership (‘Members’) of the SCMPPBA is limited to those who have been Past Presidents of the Surrey County B.A.)  The Past Presidents hold an AGM in November to

discuss matters relevant to the Association and to elect ‘Associate Members’. There are, at present, 15 Members some of whom are not active bowlers.

 

2 ‘Associate Members’.

Associate Members are bowlers who have been invited to become such as a result of the outstanding and loyal service they have given their Club or the County and for the work they

have done for the good of their fellow bowlers and the game in general. They are proposed

by a Member and elected at the Past Presidents AGM to which only Past Presidents are

entitled to attend. At present there are about 90 Associate Members.

 

During the course of the Season some 14 or so Matches are played against Past President Associations of other Counties, the Surrey County President’s team, and other Associations

such the Banks BA, Sutton & District BA and West Surrey BA.

 

Surrey Patrons Bowling Association

 

The Surrey Patrons Association was founded in 1972 by Maurice Baker who became County President in 1975 with the object of providing a steady income to the County thus helping to keep down the costs of affiliation and competition entry fees also to give Surrey club members the chance to play matches against other clubs and associations who they would not normally play.  The cost of becoming a Patron was set at £1 annually or £10 for life membership and is still the same today.

In the first year 287 patrons names were printed and this figure increased every year, 1,400 in 1980, 2,500 in 1987 and peaked at 3,182 in 1993.  Since then there has been a gradual decline in numbers.

The patrons association was run during these years by Maurice Baker (chairman) Mellows Park, Don Stanley (secretary), Old Coulsdon and George Lamond (match secretary) Wallington.

The early matches were restricted to playing against like associations from other local counties.

In 1979 the patrons played their first games against other Surrey clubs, Croydon, Ember and Weybridge and these were joined in 1980 by Guildford Malden and Southey.

Other clubs were now eager to play against the Patrons.

From the start a Patron’s Day was held annually at Old Coulsdon and the first 96 patrons to

apply played all day against different opponents a total of 36 ends plus a six-end final.

 

Surrey Masonic Sports Association

 

The Association was formed in 1937 and its principal objects were to generate companionships through sporting interests among the Freemasons of Surrey, by inter Lodge competitions of golf and bowls. Matches were also arranged against other Masonic Provinces.   It is thought that the first Bowls Match took place just before the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939.  In 1949 the Bowls Association played 4 matches - all outdoor.

By 2000 there were 38 games per year & now play (2020) 22 matches - 11 outdoor & 11 indoor.

In 1950 the Treasurer was a Mr W Thrift - we could do with him today.

Many thanks to John Ross  (Imber Court BC & King George Field IBC) for supplying this information.