Club History

The history of the club has been compiled by Don Harrison, a former secretary of the club who obtained the information from a number of people who enjoyed reminiscing with him. Amongst many who helped complete the history are Paul Richards, Phil Moyse, Liz and Ray Jones, the late Bernard Purslow and Charlie Edwards and John Rowlinson whose father was a founder member of the club.

There were different opinions on who the original ground belonged to. John Rowlinson was led to believe that it belonged to the church and was donated to the club by a Mr Atherton. From the early years the club could not function on a Sunday or any religious days, so this does give some indication that the Church was originally involved with owning the ground. Charlie Edwards advised that we have the club because the land became available when the by-pass was built, and the builder could not complete Meole Rise due to drainage/sewage problems and if one notes at the club entrance No 16 is on the left and No 38 is on the right. The builder was Tudor and Derek Bevan’s father.

The club started with one green and the only entrance was via the gate in the corner of No 1 green and the area of No 2 green was allotments. Membership was restricted to men living within a radius of 1.5 miles (including Bayston Hill). Maximum 150 members. Places on the committee were hotly contested with as many as 15 applicants. There was only one team, no lights and no bowling in wet weather (or along the edges).
The original club house was no bigger than 40ft x 20ft and was situated where the lounge and toilets are today with the kitchen being the bar. Conditions were pretty primitive, the first ‘bar’ being fitted over beer cases, and beer ‘straight from the wood’ drawn through the spigot and served in the jug. Just after the war the club purchased an old army hut, and this was assembled on the side of the club house making the whole structure into an L-shaped building. This addition to the club was for a snooker room and two snooker tables were acquired (about 30 shillings each).

The club was heated by 2/3 anthracite stoves which were lit in October and kept alight continually until April by Maurice Davenport. Old tip-up cinema seats were down the sides. The dart board was always in use with everyone involved playing games such as ‘murder’ and ‘cricket’ etc., and there were always solo whist schools. George Sirrell ran his football sweep to pay for the annual outing to Llandudno. A very large picture hung over the bar which contained hundreds of ships of all shapes and sizes of the Royal Navy. That picture and all the others that hung around the club house have long disappeared.

The idea of a club at Meole Brace was first mooted in the summer of 1931, when residents complained about the lack of outdoor recreational facilities, and it was thought that a bowling club might be a social asset to the community

After various conversations and inquiries, a meeting was held in the Meole Brace School on July 8 when the vicar, the Rev. J C Barlett, presided.

Among the founder members at that meeting were Messrs F.E. Thornhill, S. Hughes, R.S. Chambers, H.W. Butt, J Rowlinson, J A. Bray , S. L. Breeze, J Evans, A. D. Blizard, A.J. Wynn and H.E. Roberts. At that meeting it was announced that a possible site had been found adjacent to the railway and on the town side of the A5 by-pass – and that’s where the club stands today.

Mr J A Bray was appointed secretary and the treasurer was J H. Pilley who died in 1932 and was succeeded by Mr A D. Blizard.

By June 1932 the future club members had raised £100, and Mr H. G. Salt acting as legal adviser, was able to negotiate the purchase from Salop County Council of the present site, and by the following year the first green had been completed.
Negotiations were also initiated for the purchase of a further piece of land for a second green, and the following year (1934) the club pavilion, was opened. This had been built by Henry Price & Sons of Shrewsbury and officially opened by the then President Mr D. D. Macpherson of Radbrook Hall, a county magistrate.
In 1935 the club applied for and were admitted to the Shrewsbury and District Amateur Bowling League.

The facilities of the club compelled the Committee to limit membership to 120 but in the following year there was a further lease of land in order to build a ring fence round the club’s holding. This included some provision for tennis which was not too well supported and a number of allotments worked by members as well as a putting green on some spare land. Most of it today is taken up with car park which is often used to capacity.

The standard crown green had now been nursed to perfection and generally accepted in the League, and in 1938 the Club became champions of the second division and repeated the success again in 1939.

The second bowling green was opened in 1940 and the following year the club was reported entirely free of debt and because of gradual improvement and extension to the premises it was possible to raise the membership to180. Four trustees were appointed for the club, these being Messrs J. Davies, F.E. Thornhill, R.S. Chambers and A.D. Blizard who were among the original founders.

In 1942 club members emphasised the importance of their sporting ability by becoming champions of the First Division of the Bowling League. In the same year machinery was set in action for the whole area occupied by the club to be scheduled as an open space for all time, and this schedule was eventually confirmed.

Meole Brace saw many of its young members go into the services, did its best for them when on leave, and weathered the storm. After the war attention was paid to improving the club building in every possible direction, and there are few bowling clubs in the country which can offer the facilities, or the comfort provided at Meole Brace.
The new Club house was built. Instead of the one-room hut of its early days, Meole Brace has two fine bars, fully equipped and serviced from a cellar that has modern thermostatic control.

The original floodlights were obtained by Charlie Edwards and have been updated over the years.

Around 1967 it was agreed that members should be able to bring along their wives and they were present in considerable numbers at the various special events held during the year. It wasn’t until the 67th AGM of the Club on 1st December 2000 that the rules were changed to allow women to become members in their own right. Nowadays the club has many lady members and two well supported ladies’ teams.

It is noteworthy that today’s membership includes many descendants of past members of the club.

Meole Brace, almost since its inception has been known for the calibre of its bowling members, and over the years has achieved many records. In 1962 under the captaincy of Peter Walton won the County Cup, the Tanner Cup and the John Lawrence Memorial Trophy., 1979 was another great year for the club which under Ray Jones’ captaincy won the First Division of the Shrewsbury League, the County Cup and were First Reserve Division winners, with this success maintained in 1980 and 1981. Under Captain M.D. Blizard the County Cup was won again in 1982.

In 1980 Meole Brace decided to hold an open bowls competition which attracted players from all parts of the country, the competition is for the Doug Marrs Trophy, in memory of a member who died suddenly and today is backed with prize money of nearly £3000 including a £1000 first prize and lasts three weekends. The event is sponsored by Coors and organised and run very successfully by Barry and Ade Jennings who took over from Derrick Parry who had run it for many years.

The factors in the success of Meole Brace Bowling Club is the steady progress and dedication to efficient administration. Every year has seen the growth of its reputation until today it must be acknowledged as one of the most flourishing clubs in the county and gaining a national reputation.

The success of the club is undoubtedly due to a succession of conscientious officials and committee.

Since its inception almost 87 years ago the club has grown, grown and grown some more, now counting many bowls teams, competing in a number of Shropshire leagues. But it’s not all about bowling, we have successful snooker teams competing in leagues. Not bad for a club that began all of those years ago with a capital of £100.

Members even do their bit in collecting almost £3000 a year for charity which have included Lingden Davies, Air Ambulance, MS Society, Hospice amongst many.

Last year the old Resource Centre next door to the Club was demolished to make room for a ‘Care Hub’ to take day care patients and to be used as a base for care workers who visit the infirm in their own homes. The building is named Louise House after Louise Cooper who died suddenly age 36 in 2004 and did much of the legal work for Shropshire County Council to set up the Centre. Louise was the youngest daughter of Ray and Liz Jones who are both members at Meole.