Have You Found the Local Bowling Green?

Following the loss of its central Ramsbury green to development in 2007, the Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club has played bowls at the Marlborough Green. Work on a new green at the Ramsbury Recreation Centre is currently starting and in 2010 members will again be bowling at Ramsbury where the club was founded.

Since its inception in 1952 the Club has had a mixed membership, and currently averages around 30 playing members. During the Season, which runs from mid April to the end of September, there are practise sessions for all members every Monday evening and the Club participates in a full programme of league matches against other local clubs. In addition, there is a wide range of friendly matches, internal competitions and social events throughout the season.

The Club is run by a Management Committee, some of whom you may know; they are Keith Evill (Chairman), Alison Harrod (Secretary), Allan Davison (Treasurer), Arthur Cook and George Tappenden (Captains), Ron King (Fixtures Secretary), George Tappenden (Child Protection Officer), Chris Martin (Competitions Secretary), Margaret Mitson (Social Secretary), Linda Martin, George Hawes and Hilary Farnsworth.

Could Bowling be for You?

Although currently one of the smaller clubs in Wiltshire, the Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club is noted for high standards. Within the present membership, the Club has seven men who play for Wiltshire, including a County Champion of Champions winner, and two South Western Counties players. The highlight of the 2003 season was the qualification of eleven members as English Bowling Association coaches that in practical terms means that the Club can properly coach novices and experienced players.

To encourage new members the Club has for many years operated a ‘Come and Have a Go’ policy that has never failed to dispel popular myth that bowls is a sport for elderly. Those interested can attend any practise evening to bowl a few ends with a club member. These evenings are held on Mondays at Marlborough but will be at least twice each week when the club is re-located at Ramsbury in 2010.

A more structured way to sample the sport is to ring the contact named at the end of this information sheet and arrange a time to visit, usually on a club night when you can meet and talk with other members as well as your ‘coach’.

Please come and visit us to see if the sport of bowls is for you! The game is played by men and ladies on equal terms, unlike most other sports, and our playing membership is split 25/20, male and female. You need not come alone; your family is also most welcome.

Also bring along the children as the sport of bowling has increasingly attracted young people who have recognized the advantage of investing valuable training time in a sport that offers a participation period at the highest level which is more than twice as long as other sports - a hardnosed approach that has surprised many. After all, how many footballers or athletes have represented their country for 38 years?

Less well appreciated is the fact that the mix of fellow competitors is wider than in any other active sport, a social benefit that is perhaps not immediately appreciated!

So What Does it Cost?

Bowls and Footwear are the two most important items of equipment. To try out the sport you need only come to our Club with a pair of flat-soled deck shoes or trainers no heels), as Club bowls are available for visitors.

If you then decide to take up the sport, shoes will cost in the region of £25 and new bowls £75 - £100. Second hand bowls can usually be found for less than £45. The Club has no joining fee and the 2009 subscription rates for the various categories of membership are set out in the table below.

The Club’s positive encouragement to new members is embodied in the very low first-year rate for novices and the same support is given to the young, low-income groups and the disabled. Bowlers are an enthusiastic and friendly lot and we hope that you enjoyed discussing the sport with the person who handed you this sheet.

If you wish to join the Club or take advantage of our invitation to sample bowling please contact

Keith Evill on keith.evill@btconnect.com or at