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Romford Bowls Club
Today
Telephone: 01708 749642
Never played, think you are not old enough, or too old?
There are no restrictions in Bowls, if you are interested in learning to play.
Romford Bowls Club and its members invite anyone interested in trying out the game of Lawn Bowls to call in at the club pavilion anytime you are passing, when you can arrange a time to come and enjoy yourself!
Romford Bowls Club Centenary Logo
Scene from bowls game
History
The Kings Head Public House
The club was founded in 1898 by William Goodchild Snr, when a three rink grass green was laid on what later became the Kings Head Yard, Market Place, Romford.
As well as sponsoring the first club trophy to be played for - The Goodchild Cup - Mr. Goodchild also presented the first Honours Board to the club in memory of his father. Unfortunately, this honours board was stored at St. Georges Hospital, Suttons Lane at the time of the move of the club from The Kings Head to Carlton Road in 1962, and was never seen again! Meanwhile, the Goodchild Cup became the Club Championship Trophy.
The Club celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1923 and in 1928 a plot of land adjoining the site of the Old Green was acquired through the generosity of Charrington & Co. Brewers, and ably supported by Capt. A.J. Dyer the proprietor of the Kings Head the first full six rink Cumberland Turf Green in the area was laid on the site.
The club continued to prosper at the Kings Head site and in 1934, one of its members, George Darby, was elected President of the Essex County Bowling Association.
A tight head at the King's Head
In the early 1930's the Romford Club also became a founder member and the headquarters of the Romford & District Bowls Association (R.B.A.), which, at that time consisted of about four clubs. That close association with the R.B.A. continues today and their meetings are stil held at the Romford Bowling Club.
Romford Bowling Club was also responsible for the formation of the Essex Vice Presidents Association. This Association was founded in 1947 when a group of bowlers met at the Kings Head Hotel mainly at the instigation of the then County President John Wilson but with considerable support and encouragement from Albert Dyer. Mr. Wilson became the Association's first Secretary, Treasurer and Selector and retained these posts until his retirement in 1966, The Association continued to meet at the Kings Head until 1970.
It was the Essex Vice Presidents Bowling Association which provided the opposition in the match to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Romford Bowling club in August 1948 by which time Albert Dyer, then the club treasurer and also the President of the Essex Vice Presidents Bowling Association had been awarded the O.B.E.
Although Romford lost the match 104 - 113, this did not dampen the festive celebrations which continued afterwards in the King's Hall at the Jubilee Dinner where the toast to the Romford Bowling Club was proposed by Alderman A..W. Piper (Colchester Western B.B.), a former President of the English Bowls Association, Albert Dyer (also an Alderman) replied on behalf of the club. One other feature of note from this Jubilee match was that our former President - Charlie Fancourt - played at No. 2 in a rink which drew their match 13 - 13!
The other major event of the Golden Jubilee Year was that the son of the club founder, Mr. W. Goodchild, presented a Jubilee Cup in the memory of his father, to be competed for by all members in the Jubilee year. Unfortunately, we have no record of the eventual winner of that trophy.
Captain Albert Dyer, O.B.E., who had been the backbone of the club as well as a prominent citizen and past mayor of Romford, died in 1956 and this was a very sad time for the Club. He was the life and soul of any company he was in and this reflected in the sadness throughout the town at his passing.
The Diamond Jubilee of the club was celebrated on 24th July 1958 with two 3 rink matches against Guinness B.C. and the R.B.A. Once again, the festivities continued in the Kings Hall where the music was provided by the Stan Ward Trio.
It was appropriate that Guinness B.C. should play a part in out Jubilee celebrations as a very close personal relationship had grown between the clubs. This was mainly due to the personal friendship between Albert Dyer (who amongst his other interests was the proprietor of the Kings Head Hotel) and Sir Hugh Beaver who designed the Park Royal Brewery. The annual fixture between the two clubs was, for many years, the highlight of the season - especially when it was played at Guinness B.C. and our members were entertained personally in the Toucan Bar by Sir Hugh and then enjoyed tea (!) in the Guinness Board Room!!
The next major event in the history of the club was the compulsory takeover by the council of the Kings Head Hotel and the bowling greens of ourselves and Liberty B.C. in 1962 to make way for the redevelopment of Romford Town Centre. In its place we were offered one of the new greens which had been laid in Lodge Farm Park, whilst Liberty B.C. were offered the other. Liberty B.C. however declined to move to Lodge Farm Park.
The last match at the Kings Head Green was played on 3rd October 1962 against a County select team consisting of one rink from each of the County's leading clubs. Romford lost the match 98 - 136 but, once again, the result was forgotten at the after-match celebration dinner in the Kings Head. By coincidence, the club's deputy president that year was one Charlie Fancourt!
The last match at The King's Head
The opening of the new green at Lodge Farm Park was celebrated in May 1963 with a match against the Mayor of Romford and his councillors (must have been a condition of the lease) which, Romford won comfortably to get their new home off to a successful start. The most notable feature of that match was that the Mayor that year was a woman - Mrs. Roberts - but the records show that our newly elected president allowed her to play!
When Roneo-Vickers closed their company sports ground, which coincided with the move to Lodge Farm Park, the company were anxious to ensure the continuation of their bowling club and they took the oppurtunity to lease the second green at Lodge Farm Park which had been declined by Liberty B.C.
The flag coming down for the last time
The two clubs shared the council rental for the greens and this arrangement worked satisfactorily for both clubs for many years.
Romford B.C. continued to grow from strength to strength at their new home, they were greatly assisted in their development when they successfully applied to licence the club pavilion in 1966.
When consideration was given to organising a match to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the club, Romford decided it was time to avenge the defeat inflicted by the the Vice Presidents Association on the occasion of our Golden Jubilee in 1948 - we have long memories at Romford!!
Accordingly on Sunday 19th August 1973 Romford met the Essex Vice Presidents Association and emerged the winners by 134 shots to 107! Once again however Charlie Fancourt could still only get a draw 19-19, but then on this occasion he had to carry John Franks and John Hollowbread as well as Jim Skinner.
With a gradual and continuing reduction in their membership the remaining Roneo B.C. members decided in 1981 to joint the Romford club and as a result, Romford B.C. were strengthened by the acquisition of several good bowlers, the majority of whom remain at Romford to this day! The new strengthened club also had the exclusive use of the two greens at Lodge Farm Park.
The last twenty five years have undoubtedly been the most successful in the club's history culminating in the winning of the County Shield in 1996. The individual and club honours won during this period are documented on the Romford Bowling Club website but no history of the club would be complete without reference to some of the individual members who have contributed to the success of the club by dint of their hard work and dedication over the years, many of whom are no longer with us.
Reference has already been made to the Club Founders, William Goodchild and Albert Dyer, who held so many offices in the club and county with distinction over many years.
To these two must be added the name of former President Charlie Fancourt whose name has been synonymous with Romford Bowling Club and Essex County Bowls over many many years.
Charlie Fancourt
However the strength of Romford Bowling Club is not about two or three individuals. It has been extremely fortunate to have had so many able and willing members prepared to give up their time in the interest of the club but, unfortunately, space allows only to mention a few.
In the past Tommy Knight was secretary of the club at Kings Head and Lodge farm Park, and put in tremendous work for the club at a crucial time; Jimmy Morris, Past President and Captain; Tommy Barrett, Treasurer and Handyman; Walter and Wyn Risebrow; Alf Viney and of course Bob Howie a tireless and hard working secretary.
Finally no history of the club would be complete without reference to the introduction of the Ladies section to the club in 1989. Since then, the section has become a ladies club and is having great success in its own right as well as being a considerable integral asset to Romford Bowling Club overall. The hope is that their club will develop as successfully in the future as the mens club has and that, together, we can look forward to the next 100 years with confidence.
Taken from Centenary Brochure 1898-1998.
Author: Unknown
Added: 20/07/2007