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HOLLINGTON OLD CHURCH BOWLS CLUB

ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA

A BRIEF HISTORY

 

As early as 1930 the Rector for the Church in the Wood, Mr Arthur B. Taylor, formed a Committee to lobby the Town Council into providing recreation facilities for the Hollington area, but unfortunately was not successful in achieving this.

 

A few years later in 1933 a very close friend of his who was a loyal member of the Church in the Wood, namely Miss Rosina Gibbons, died and left a handsome bequest for the benefit of the Church and the Parish. Miss Gibbons had named Mr A. B. Taylor and Mr W. J. Robbins as her Trustees and had given them absolute discretion as to the disposal of the funds.

 

The Trustees acquired the green area in Wishing Tree Road, St Leonards-on-Sea which became known as the “Gibbons Memorial Field”. The ground was prepared for two tennis courts, a bowling green and a football area. These sporting facilities were officially opened by the Mayor (Alderman A. Blackman J.P.) on the 9th May 1935 with the Mayor delivering the first wood and joining in the games with members of Rosemount and White Rock Bowls Clubs. The Club was to be open to any member of the Parish regardless of religion at a charge of two shillings for the season and 2d a week towards the upkeep of the green.

 

Although the club acknowledges its opening as 9th May 1935 when the playing field was opened, it was playing matches the previous year on the lawns of the Rectory. The club then had 25 members but it was originally born out of a group of members who had previously been playing bowls on the lawns of High Beech, Battle Road, the home of Mrs Gwendoline Jefferson.

 

In December 1943 a Deed of Trust was drawn up with conditions attached which stated that the land was not to be used for Sunday games and no intoxicating liquors to be sold on the ground or any building upon it, also the field was to continue to be known as “The Gibbons Memorial Playing Field”.

 

History repeated itself on the 9th May 1995 for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations when the presiding Mayor (Richard Stevens) yet again delivered the first wood against teams from the same Rosemount and White Rock Clubs.

 

By 1999 the club’s pavilion had become outdated and in need of much repair, and so it was decided that a new pavilion (the club’s third) would have to be acquired. So began a search, including a plea in the local newspaper, for a suitable building. Fortunately, a cabin 40ft. x 10ft. (12m x 3m), belonging to the local authority at Battle was for sale at £300. It was purchased through the generosity of the club’s Vice President who donated it with the proviso that the club funded the necessary work that was needed. This was agreed and much work by the then and subsequent members has produced our excellent pavilion.

 

To secure the ownership, the playing field’s status was changed in 1963 when ‘‘The Gibbons Memorial Playing Field Trust’, became a registered charity. Its aims were to Provide football pitch currently used by Hollington United Football Club – ground maintained by the club. Provide Bowling Green currently used by Hollington Old Church Bowls Club – green maintained by the club.  The charity is still responsible for the playing field to this day.

 

The year 2020 was a strange time not only for the club, but also for life in general, due to the huge impact of a coronavirus pandemic, covid-19, which first emerged in China and very quickly spread throughout the world. Over the following weeks and months there were many Government restrictions and lockdowns including restrictions on person-to-person contact. This obviously had a major impact not only on life in general but it virtually caused all sport to cease, which obviously included bowls. Fortunately, as time progressed there was some play during 2020 and 2021 but with many restrictions on numbers of members on the premises/allowed to play/ and the handling of playing equipment.

 

We have to thank the Trustees and support and dedication of many stalwart members of the club throughout its history who ensured the greens and Club’s existence continue to grow from strength to strength towards its 90th birthday in 2025.