A Century of Bowling - Royal County of Berkshire Bowling Association

BULMERSHE
This Club took over the Park Institute Club’s green when that closed in 1945. The original green
was laid in 1909 and Bulmershe was formed in 1946 and affiliated to the County the same
year.
The green was situated in Bulmershe Road Reading, but is no longer in existence, as flats
have now been built there. The Club continued until 1965, when it lost its green.
During its time J H Sowden-Hill won the Secretaries Cup in 1950 and 1952.
C.W.S. PRINTING WORKS BOWLS CLUB
Founded in 1947 and affiliated in 1950. The green, which was laid in 1947, was in Elgar
Road, Reading and at the time of formation, none of the members had any bowling
experience.
Their Club badge and tie was, “a devil’s head surrounded by Club name on oval shield” The
tie was navy blue with red and yellow stripes. The badge represents a symbol of the trade.
The Devil’s head refers to the printer’s devil used in former times.
They were quite successful in County Competitions, as runners-up on three occasions, but in
1961 F Acres and P Thatcher were the winners of the Pairs.
The exact date of their demise is unknown, but we know they were gone by 1996.
CAVERSHAM PARK SPORTS CLUB
Founded and affiliated to the County in 1913, the green was in Conisboro Avenue,
Caversham, where Mr. Valentine Fleming M.P. was the President.
Described in the Reading Chronicle in 1914 as “ it is completely isolated from the outside
world and a quieter healthier spot it would be difficult to imagine. However, it
is useless denying the fact that the green has not yet reached the high level that
bowlers like.” By this time there were 50 members and a fixture list of 18 matches. The
demise of the Club in 1922 coincides with the formation of Caversham B.C. as we know it,
but there is no proven connection between the two on file.
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