Club History

The year 1973 was not only the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Weybridge B.C, it was also the Golden Jubilee of the Surrey club becoming private at the present freehold headquarters at Springfield Lane.

Weybridge, founded in 1903 was affiliated to the Surrey County B.A, the E.B.A and the London and Southern Counties B.A.

Unfortunately, in April 1967 fire destroyed the pavilion and trophies and many treasured and irreplaceable possessions, including most of the club records, acquired over the years were lost. However, the original minute books were salvaged and from these, and information supplied by members and County Secretaries it was possible to record the main events in the club's history.

Weybridge B.C was formed on 16th March 1903 when 12 bowlers met at the Ship Hotel, Weybridge, where they were in the habit of "rolling-up" on the green beside the Hotel. The initial subscription was 2/6d with a similar entrance fee.

The first match was against Southey B.C which unfortunately does not take place anymore.

By the end of June 1903 the club was firmly established with 60 members and 12 matches were played during the first season.

At the first A.G.M in March 1904, affiliation to the newly formed English Bowling Association and to the London and Southern Counties B.A was agreed upon. An extract from the minutes of the A.G.M on 31st October 1905 is both amusing and enlightening - "Annual Dinner tickets to be 3/6d each (6d to be used for the entertainment)".

The next event of note which was traced, was a decision taken the A.G.M in April 1912 to transfer the Weybridge B.C headquarters from the Ship Hotel, to the Churchfield Pleasure Ground in Weybridge.

By this time the club had affiliated to the Surrey County B.A and members were entering various County Competitions.

In 1914 the chairman of the club, W.J. Bennett, presented the "Bennett Challenge Cup" as the singles championship trophy. The original competition was based on 21 shots, two woods only. It was changed to four woods the following year. The Bennett Cup as it became known was the most sought after prize until the fire in 1967, when it suffered it's fate.

Club activities continued throughout the First World War.

Other club competitions were introduced, but few matches were played. With the cessation of hostilities, normal activities were resumed and extended.

In 1922 a lot of thought was given to the acquisition of a private green of Cumberland Turf. This project was pursued with vigour, and by the commencement of 1923 playing season, a suitable site had been purchased, the green laid and Weybridge B.C; had taken possession of it's own freehold green and grounds at Springfield Lane.
The event was celebrated in the appropriate manner, the formal opening being conducted in the presence of representatives of the EBA, LSCBA and SCBA.

The year 1923 was notable, also, for the election of W J Bennett, the club's first President, as Chairman of Surrey County BA. The office of president of Surrey County BA was not introduced until 1934 and some years later in 1952, it was filled by T K Dobson, the Weybridge Club President.

No detailed records exist covering the period, which led up to the Second World War in 1939, but happily some of the then members are still with the club.

The larger part of the pavilion was taken over as an extension of the adjoining factory making munitions and this led to the building of the existing kitchen and toilets block. Such members as were available continued their bowls and kept the club going until normal activities could once again be resumed.

The next major event in the history of Weybridge BC was the silver jubilee celebrations on July 22nd 1948 to mark the completion of 25 years as a private club with headquarters at Springfield Lane. Representatives of the Surrey County BA Executive, London & Southern Counties BA Executives, Farnham BC and Weybridge Recreation BC participated in a special invitation match followed by dinner at the Ship Hotel.

During the 1949 season the condition of the green, which had for some time shown signs of deterioration, became a matter of serious concern and it was agreed that it should be re-laid during the following autumn. The work was duly completed at an approximate cost of £1000.

The club celebrated it's half century on July 18th 1953 with a Golden jubilee match against the EBA and members of the Council of Surrey County BA and London & Southern Counties BA. Memories fade but tales can still be told of jollification's in that special year and of many other happy times throughout the years, especially when the drinks flow freely in the bar.

The year 1960 ranks among the most memorable in the club's history. In that year they enjoyed the rare privilege of numbering among their members two County Presidents - The late E H Allan, President of Surrey County BA and the late A W Gallagher, President of London & southern County BA. Both "Ted's" as they were affectionately known, were tremendous workers for their association and for the club.

Ted Allan was Secretary of the Surrey County BA benevolent fund from 1960 - 1970.
Weybridge has, in fact, for many years been a keen supporter of the benevolent fund and no account of recent events would be complete without reference to the annual Surrey benevolent match with the Byfleet Wanderers BC whose enthusiastic support of the fund was by no means less.
The fixture was regarded as a major event by both clubs and was usually the last match of the season.
Fund raising was the order of the day, the main effort being the auctioning of the many gifts donated generously to the fund by members and friends of both clubs, including Ember Sports BC.
Since it's inception in 1956 this joint effort has raised an amount exceeding £1500. Sadly 1972 saw the last of such matches, as the Wanderers club no longer exists.

Diamond jubilee celebrations on May10th 1963 took the form of a match with the EBA.
The visitors included the President, past Presidents and many bowlers of international repute.
Of the Weybridge team on that occasion, many were still playing with the club in 1974 when this article was written. They were: W D Cornish, G J Fish, R C Lavington, W Mackie, R McDougall, E E Robson, A C Taylor, R H W Pleece and D Ugle, whilst A Millson, now 92 years old was still an avid spectator.
Then there is H H Williams, a member over many years during which he has given great service.
Inevitably some of the others have passed on, including R C Cooke, who was Vice Captain in that year and later Captain of the Club and R C Ebrey, who was elected captain for the fourth successive year and represented the club on the Surrey Executive for several years.

The years roll on and Weybridge members have attained a fair measure of success in County and other competitions as the list of principals honours shows, which apparently are now once more recorded on a new honours board. It includes a winner of the Surrey County Singles Championship, which was won by D H Ugle in 1965.
When Surrey won the Middleton Cup in 1973 G E Sheppard was in the side.

From the time of the fire in 1967 until the completion of the new pavilion with the lounge and bar at one end and the dressing rooms at the other, the Weybridge Club was singularly fortunate with it's Officers and Committee. Coupled with the re-building was the purchase of certain additional land. Also, the time was opportune to raise with the local authority the question of planning permission for a building for indoor bowls. These two matters involved lengthy and protracted negotiations, which made heavy demands on those concerned, to whom much credit is due, but various problems finally precluded the possible provision for indoor bowls.

It is a worthy record and indeed indicative of the general appreciation of the work performed that when the money from insurance cover and general funds proved insufficient for the purpose in mind, a 'once-for-all' appeal by the Chairman brought the magnificent response for approximately £750 from nearly the whole membership.

Thus Weybridge's main rehabilitation was completed by November 1971 free from debt and still with a credit.

Surrey President Bob Buist took a team to Weybridge in 1973 as part of Weybridge celebrations and a keen game resulted in a win for the President's team by 120 shots to 103. Scores (President first) Bateman 15-Mitchell 19, Stanley 27-Ugle 17, Buist 24 - West 10, Mortimore 16 - Pleece 18, Morris 24 - Goree 18, C K Baker 14 - H Baker 21.