A Century of Bowling - Royal County of Berkshire Bowling Association

PROSPECT PARK BOWLING CLUB
• Founded 1913
• Prospect Park, Honey End Lane, Tilehurst
• Affiliated 1913
A
bowling green was constructed in Prospect Park and the Mayor of Reading
laid the last turf in 1912. Officially the Club started in 1913 after a meeting
of 12 local business men on 25th February, who agreed a set of general rules
and regulations, which had to be strictly adhered to! The membership was 48 men,
with a subscription of 2/6d per member. After the first season there was a healthy bank
balance of 10/6d!
Our first President was Alderman E O Farrell and the two Vice Presidents were Sir Rufus
Isaacs and Captain Leslie Wilson (RN). Both later served as Members of Parliament. Blazers
and club badges were introduced in 1923, with the emblem being the Oak Tree, which could
be seen from the Clubhouse.
From then through to the 1970’s, a host of National and County Honours being gained –
35 in all making the Club one of the most successful in Berkshire. T Yates, another very
proficient winner of competitions gave his name to a Cup (The Yates Cup), which since 1951
has been played for annually by Prospect Park, Palmer Park and Caversham.
At the same time the Ladies Section was formed, with the first lady President, Mrs. M.
Perkins, who later became President of the B.C.W.B.A. A new Clubhouse was built and
officially opened by the Mayor of Reading in 1974, which was initially not allowed a liquor
licence, although the Council thought better of that decision a few years later.
In 2003 Wendy Smart was elected President of the B.C.W.B.A., during which the Club hosted
a very successful Ladies County Finals on our green. 2005 was the most successful in recent
years, with the Club being LX Finalists and Winners of Kennet League Winners Division 2.
The Club is now a fully mixed Club, with 25 ladies and 55 men.
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