Higham Ferrers Town Bowls Club

Bowling in Higham Ferrers began in the early 1900's on a small patch of green with no facilities, situated beside the 'Grandstand' in the Recreation Ground, but both of these have long since disappeared. The present club was formed in 1945, when the new green in its current position was opened. Early members included Messrs. F.Eady. R.Barker. D.Garley. W.Wilby. J.Boddington. P.Barker. A.Draper. C.O'Dell. T.Matthews, and finally at the meeting was Mrs Rose O'Dell who went on to help form the ladies section on March 23rd 1949.

The original clubhouse was a small wooden hut with very little in the way of facilities, but over the years the club has been rebuilt and extended by the members and now offers excellent facilities to our own and visiting members.

On the 6th June 2003, members of the club secured a lease from the Higham Ferrers Town Council, giving us the authority to run our own affairs and take over the care of the green which had become sadly run down. In the short time since then, members have worked really hard and, with the help of an expert contractor, have managed to bring the green back up to an 'A' standard as well as improving all the surrounding area.

We have been represented at both Worthing and Leamington (and prior to that at Wimbledon) on many occasions and are very proud of the success of our members in club, county and national competitions. We have had many notable members, both ladies and gentlemen, who have done a lot for bowling at all levels.

In 1963 Mrs Hilda Woodall was County Competition Secretary and County Singles Champion, an honour which she had won before. She had a long row of county badges which she always wore on her blazer and long after her bowling days were finished, she would sit on the veranda of the club and display her badges to all and sundry. She also had what she considered to be her own seat and woe betide anyone who was sitting there when she appeared.

In 1967 Mrs Daisy Middleton, another prolific county and club champion, was appointed Ladies President for the NWBA.

In more recent years, Ray Davies, Club and County President, was a stout defender of our club and of bowls in general and was well known and respected in the county. John Church, another respected member of our club and a previous winner of the Secretary's Cup, is currently the Senior Squad Manager for the county. Our honours board shows that over the years, members of the club have been prolific in the honours they have won and we are justly proud of their achievements.

The Club is now a thriving and expanding club, well thought of in the local community. Our charity fund raising at the Ladies Gala Day, which was started in memory of one of our most outstanding lady bowlers, Marie Plimmer, who died of cancer whilst still very young, is a popular annual event.

We all look forward to more success at county level and the ongoing success of our club in the coming years.