A Century of Bowling - Royal County of Berkshire Bowling Association

Bowls HUNTLEY Club & PALMERS BOWLING CLUB
• Info
• Founded 1898
• Info
• Founder Member
• Info
Formed as part of a company social club, and was reported as the oldest works
bowls Club in the country. The green was for many years at Kings Meadow, which
was behind the factory, but in 1965 moved to Kensington Road, which was near
to the Old Elm Park Football ground used by Reading F.C., before they moved.
When the County was formed, they were always referred to as “The Biscuit Factory”
and played a very large and active part in County matters for many years, and in 1911.
T. H. Lawrence became the second County President. Initially competitions were played
between departments of the company, but matches against local Clubs were always a part of
the bowling calendar. Membership was restricted to employees and their family right up until
the mid 1970’s, when the production of biscuits ceased at the factory, and guest players were
then allowed in. It remained a men’s club until 1994 when ladies were admitted.
Over the years, the Club played host to visiting teams from New Zealand and Canada to
name but a few, and they always were presented with a tin of their famous biscuits, and
acted as the perfect hosts for the County.
As can be seen by the badge, they celebrated their Centenary in 1998 and the badge
contains the Maltese Cross, an island and a palm tree, all connected with the Palmer family.
During their long county membership, the Club was very successful winning the Singles
three times, Pairs five times, Club Championship twice, Double 4’s four times, Benev.Triples
once, Honorary Secretaries seven times and Champion of Champions twice.
Sadly the Club suffered a combination of a declining membership and rising costs and were
forced to close its green in 2007.
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