The Formation of the City and County of Bristol Bowling Association.
At the start of the Twentieth Century the various County Bowling Associations were in their infancy. The Gloucestershire Bowling Association was formed in 1905, and Somerset Bowling Association not until 1914, from 15 clubs. It appears at this time that Bristol-based clubs north of the River Avon - the boundary between Somerset and Gloucestershire - had not allied themselves to their natural county, and were by exception welcomed into the burgeoning Somerset County Association. Bristol Arrow BC was one of the first to become affiliated in this respect. Henleaze BC joined in 1929, and Bristol St George BC followed in 1930. The influence of all the Bristol Clubs within the Somerset BA was therefore becoming significant.
Eventually a well publicized champagne, led by Mr. E.M. Trevor resulted in this matter being thoroughly aired.
By the end of 1935 the position of the Gloucestershire-based clubs was seen by some of the Somerset officers as being anachronistic, prompting a move to exclude those clubs from the Association. At the AGM held at the Victoria Club, Weston-Super-Mare on November 23rd, Dr R Scott-Reid of Bloomfield BC put forward the resolution that Rule 3 "…be altered to read as follows:- Membership of the Association shall be open to all bona-fide Amateur Bowling Clubs, and shall be confined to clubs whose greens are geographically situated in the County of Somerset."
The debate which followed this had some singular features. An objection by J.J. Armer (Bristol St Andrews BC) that this should have been first considered, and therefore possibly suppressed, by the Executive Committee, was rejected, but the next concern raised a few eyebrows.
The report states
"Mr Porter (Bristol Civil Service) strongly criticised the fact that a circular letter, signed by the President himself, had been issued suggesting that clubs should send strong representation to the meeting and stating that he the President) was in favour of the motion. Was it the right procedure, he asked, for the gentleman who was to preside over the meeting to inform the delegates that he favoured the motion?
The president replied that as a Somerset man he had felt it right that he should issue and sign the letter, which had been forwarded to all clubs.
A Bristol delegate asked why his club had not received a copy of the letter. He was followed by other Bristol club representatives who similarly protested that no letter of the kind had reached them.
The President could only state that he had given orders for the letter to be sent to all clubs."
Dr Scott-Reid then proposed the motion, and referred to "trouble and grousing which prevailed in the county was due to a complete absence of unity and the proper county spirit". He then went on to say that "To 75 per cent of the members Somerset was a mere nothing, only a means to an end, and when once the "county coat" had been won all interest ceased." Mr Reakes (Wells BC) seconded the motion and went on to say that "The Somerset clubs were being effaced by the strong infusion of players from Bristol."
The vote was taken, and defeated by 118-133. Mr Trevor was then proposed for re-election as President, but declined because of the defeated motion, and further nominations of George Sutton and W.A. Price were also declined. The issue was clearly an emotive one and would not go away. The AGM was adjourned until January when the outstanding items on the agenda could be completed.
At the Henleaze BC Annual Dinner, the club's President, Clarence Davey, then referred to remarks by Mr Trevor that "the county did not want the 22 clubs on the Gloucestershire side of the Avon" and on another occasion that "had our Bristol friends been real sportsmen they would never had opposed the motion". The report goes on to quote Clarence Davey as saying "Bristol clubs have for many years cherished a hope, perhaps secretly, that at some time or other it may be possible to have a Bristol County Association".
The Adjourned AGM reconvened in Weston-Super-Mare. Mr Trevor had relented and agreed to stand for re-election and was duly accepted. The business continued with election of other officers and delegates, arrangements for competitions and county matches, and the problems of selection for County matches with too few nominations being put forward.
It was under Any Other Business that the geographical split then came to the fore again. Mr Reakes (Wells BC) asserted that "a few weeks ago, the secretary of the Wells club had forwarded a letter to Mr Morris asking that Rule 3 (dealing with the inclusion of Bristol Clubs in the Association) be deleted, with a view to its being laid before the whole of the delegates, but Mr Morris had decided it would not be in order. He then continued that Mr Morris had entirely exceeded his duties in refusing to put the item on the agenda. He added that twenty years ago it had been felt there could be no harm in including Bristol clubs outside the geographical county but that the time had come when such a state of things could not continue.
The report continues "Addressing the Bristol section the speaker (Mr Reakes) added "You have usurped positions in the teams that really belong to Somerset men. This feeling of exasperation cannot be allowed to continue. …If you don't take up a reasonable attitude and form an association of your own in Bristol it will mean that Somerset County will use a certain method which they do not like to adopt". Mr Morris defended himself stating that the resolution had only reached him a fortnight before the meeting, which was refuted.
The President then aroused a further outburst which by suggesting that the vote at the original meeting in November had been incorrectly taken. A suggestion was put forward that a special committee of six delegates review the matter, but the representation on such a committee would have been problematic.
The proposal that the formation of Bristol County, affiliated to the EBA would be a way forward but the President stated that it was impossible that Bristol "was not a geographical county and it cannot be regarded as such by the EBA." However this protracted and acrimonious AGM was concluded by agreeing that the whole matter should be put before the EBA.
The outcome of the EBA meeting is not recorded in the Archives.
The E.B.A. then ruled that all the Bristol Clubs situated in the geographical County of Gloucestershire could not be affiliated to the E.B.A. through the Somerset County Bowling Association. They also out the possibility of forming a City and County Bowling Association with full County status and stated that all Bristol clubs North of the River Avon had to be affiliated to the Gloucestershire Bowling Association.
The next entry refers to a meeting at the Grand Hotel in Bristol on March 31st 1936. The headline reads "New Bristol Bowling Association Formed" and "35 clubs representing 1,500 players"
That evening 200 bowlers unanimously passed the resolution to form the City and County of Bristol Bowling Association. 34 clubs had been invited, 31 attended. The resolution that was agreed stated "That a bowling association to be known as 'The City and County of Bristol Bowling Association' be formed and that the names of all clubs present at this meeting, whose greens are situated within the boundary of the City and County of Bristol, and whose duly appointed delegates support this resolution, shall be founder members of the association". That list of clubs was recorded as:-
Ardagh B. C.
Ashtonians B. C.
Avonmouth B. C.
Beaufort B. C.
Brandon B. C.
Bristol B. C.
Bristol Arrow B. C.
Bristol Civil Service B. C.
Bristol Gas Company B. C.
Bristol South B. C.
Bristol St Andrews B. C.
Bristol Tramways B. C.
Britton and Son B. C.
Cabot B. C.
Canford B. C.
Eastville Methodists B. C.
Eastvillians B. C.
Elders and Fyffes B. C.
Evening World B. C.
Greenbank B. C.
Greville Smythe B. C.
Henleaze B. C.
Imperial Tobacco Company B. C.
Imperial Chemicals B. C.
Kleeneze Brush Company B. C.
Knowle B. C.
Redfield B. C.
E.S. & A. Robinson B. C.
Royal Empire Society B. C.
St Ambrose B. C.
St Andrew's Park B. C.
St Anne's B. C.
St George B. C.
Victoria Park B. C.
Master Bakers B. C.
Two other clubs, Fry's B. C. were represented but outside the nominated geographical region, and Master Bakers B. C. did not attend but sent a letter of support. It was stated that hopefully clubs in the immediate area, such as Fry's could be admitted in the future.
The members of the formation Committee who had materially assisted the Chairman in submitting the draft Constitution and Rules for consideration at this meeting were: - Alderman J.H. Maggs, Messrs W.M. Lomax, J.J. Armer, J. Porch, W.J. Featherstone, F. Baxter, H.T. Morgan, R. Door, W. Hamilton, W.A. Price, H Smith, A.G. Davis, A.E. Morris and A.E.C. Bryant (Hon Sec)
So the Association was formed, with Alderman H.J. Maggs J.P. (Redfield B. C.) being elected as the first President. The first match was played at Bristol St Andrew's B. C., Derby Road, on 26th. May 1936, between the Vice President's team playing the President's team, with a President's team being narrowly defeated by Mr. Clarence Davey's Vice-President's team 114-116.
The afflation fee at that time was 10s6p [ten shillings and six pence] per club, and badges were sold for one shilling and six pence.
The association then became affiliated as an associate member to the E. B. A., and the member clubs fully affiliated through their geographical counties, those north of the River Avon joining Gloucestershire and those clubs to the south joining Somerset.
1936. Association founded with 34 member clubs.
B. & D. Boots & Shoe Trade Association joined the association.
Hovis Ltd. B.C. joined the association.
Our first President, Alderman Herbert John Maggs J.P., from Redfield B.C. was elected to the office. Herbert had been Lord Mayor of Bristol in 1934. Pictured>
Clarence Davey of Henleaze Bowling Club donated a trophy for the Interclub Championship called the Clarence Davey interclub championship trophy, or Clarence Davey cup.
Ernie Morris donated a trophy for the club being runners up in the Interclub Championship
1937. Competition fees were introduced, the fee being one shilling and sixpence per player in singles, pairs and fours, and four shilling per club in the Interclub championship.
The 1937 Dinner was held at the Berkeley Café at a cost of four shillings and sixpence and the guests included the Presidents of the E.B.A., Gloucestershire and Somerset Bowling Associations.
Herbert John Maggs JP., of Redfield B.C. was again our President.
1938. Herbert C. Hayes of Henleaze B.C was appointed as President.
1943. Thomas Henry Johnson Underdown became President, he was Lord Mayor of Bristol in 1940.
1945. St. George Fireguards Officers B.C.
1946 Sam G. Tydeman of Arrow B.C. was President, who went on to be President of Bristol Arrow B.C. from 1962-1967, and club Captain 1941, 1942 & 1964.
1950. I.C.I. Netham B.C. disbanded and left the association.
1953. Avonvale B.C. formed and joined the association.
1955. A trophy, called the Harry Punchard cup was Presented by Harry Punchard, President 1961, for annual games between the City & County and the Gloucestershire Bowling Association.
A. S. Williamson was appointed President.
1958. Bedminster Brotherhood and Rangers B.C. amalgamated with Bristol Omnibus B.C.
C.W.S. Bowls section disbanded and they resigned from the association.
Cost of handbook one shilling and sixpence.
Keynsham B.C. joined the association.
1959. Henry Richard Priddy O.B.E. JP of Ardagh B.C., was President, who had been High Sheriff of Bristol in 1955.
1960. 45 member clubs. Entry for Clarence Davey cup five shillings, individual entry two shillings.
Norman Aspden, secretary, passed away during the season.
1961. Harry Punchard President 1939 and 1940 passed away.
Clarence Davey of Henleaze B.C. passed away. Clarence was Lord High Sheriff of Bristol in 1940.
Scull B.C. joined the association.
1962. Bill Watkinson of was President but sadly passed away during the season, immediate past president Harry Mapstone carried on for him.
Past president Harry Priddy [1959] passed away.
1963. Kingswood & Hanham B.C. joined the association.
1964. Bristol Electricity B.C. joined the association.
1965. St. George Civil Defence B.C. disbanded, and left the association.
Kildare B.C. merged with St. Andrews Park B.C.
Scull B.C. changed name to Drake & Scull B.C.
H.C.H. Punchard of Bristol Arrow B.C., was our President, he had been secretary of Bristol Arrow B.C. from 1954 TO 1961.
1966. 46 member Clubs.
Royal Commonwealth Society B.C. left association.
Portishead B.C. joined the association.
1968. Courage [Western] B.C. joined the association.
44 member clubs.
1969. Brentry Hospital B.C. joined the association.
Bristol St. Anne's B.C. disbanded after 60 years of bowling.
Fry's [J.S. Fry and Son Ltd.] B.C. changed it's name to Fry, J.S. B.C.
G.B. Britton and Son B.C. changed name to G.B. Britton B.C.
Robinsons B.C. changed name to Robinsons, E.S.& A. B.C.
Herbert .C. Hayes President 1938, passed away.
Our President for this season from G. B. Britton B.C. was Ray Hughes.
1975. Eric Randall of Portishead B.C. was our President.
Bristol Blind B.C. founded and played at Brandon Hill.
1981. St. George B.C. changed it's name to Bristol St. George B.C.
Greenbank B.C. changed it's name to Bristol Greenbank B.C.
1982. Yate & District B.C. joined the association.
1983. Portishead R.B.L. B.C. joined the association.
Bert Palmer of B.C. donated the Bert Palmer trophy for the winning team in the Interclub championship semi finals. [3rd place].
Hughie Crosbie of B.C. denoted a trophy for loosing semi final club in Interclub Championship. [4th place]
1987. Long Ashton B.C. joined the association.
Mike Duke of Fry's B.C. was President.
1988
1989
1990. Whitehall B.C. joined the association.
A. T. Cross, Toby, was President from Portishead B.C., but sadly passed away during the season.
1991 Arrowsmith B.C. joined the association.
Northavon B.C. joined the association.
Ken Iles of Kingswood & Hanham B.C. was appointed President.
1992. Arrowsmith B.C. disbanded and left the association.
National Smelting B.C.'s green sold so they were forced to disband and left the association.
1995. Oakfield B.C. disbanded and left the association.
Ken A. Pearce, President in 1983, passed away in December.
1996. Associations Diamond Jubilee. [1936-1996].
Begbrook Green B.C. joined the association.
Avon & Somerset Police B.C. joined the association.
46 Member clubs.
1998 Robinsons E. S. & A. B.C. left the association green sold for redevelopment.
1999 Avon & Somerset Constabulary B.C. left the association green closed.
2000. Cabot B.C. green closed by the council, of the two clubs playing there:-
Cabot B.C. shared Bristol St. George B.C.'s green,
Bristol Blind B.C. shared Ashton Park's green.
2001. Albert Atyeo, a life member of G.B. Britton B.C. and the President of the City & County in 1984, passed away, and a trophy was presented by his wife, Peggy Atyeo, for annual games between C & C and G.B.'s due to the enormous work Albert did for both G.B.'s and C & C.
Peter J. H. Ware of Redland Green B.C. had the honour of Presidency.
2005 Courage [Western] B.C. Disbanded, leaving Victoria Park green and leaving the association, most members joined Avonvale B.C.
2008 Bristol Blind B.C. left the association.
Greville Smyth B.C. Founded in 1908 disbanded in 2008.
2009 Bristol South B.C. disbanded and left the association.
Henbury Social Club B.C. disbanded and left the association and green redeveloped.
2010 Ashton B.C. joined the association.
Bradley Stoke B.C. joined the association.
Bristol Civil Service B.C. left the association, green closed.
Newbridge B.C. Founded in 1948 disbanded and left the association.
St. Anne's Park & Brislington B.C. left the association.
2011 Ashton B.C. left the association.
St. Anne's Park B.C. joined the association, a merger of Newbridge B.C. and St. Anne's Park & Brislington B.C.
Don Lyndsay of Bristol B.C. was President.
2012 Eastville Park B.C. left the association, club disbanded.
John Hutson from B.A.C.[B.A.W.A.] B.C. was our President.
2013. 35 Member clubs.
Derick Robertson of Portishead B.C. was elected as President.
2014 Ken Pearce Trophy [President 1983] Presented in his memory by his son John Pearce, for two wood winner.
Keith Boyland of Olveston & District B.C. presented a cup for two wood runner up for a laugh.
2015. Wally Gunningham of Avonvale B.C., President 1986 passed away.
2016 The Vic Wilcox Trophy [President 1999] was presented in his memory by his wife , for the Junior singles winner.
Michael Collier of Portishead B.C. was President, who used to be a ships Captain, hence his nickname "Captain Birds Eye".
2017 Whitehall B.C. left the association.
G. B. Brittan B.C.'s Doug Johnson was President.
2018 Long Ashton left the association.
Ray Hughes of G. B. Britton B.C. and our President in 1989. Passed away 15th May.
Roger Trueman was appointed President, from St. Anne's Park B.C.
2019, Portishead R.B.L. B.C. left the association.
Portishead B.C. left the association.
President from Begbrook Green B.C. was Dave Quick.
2020 No matches or competitions were played due to Covid 19 Pandemic.
Chris Harris of St. Anne's Park B.C. was President but played no games due to Covid 19.
2021. Chris Harris of St. Anne's Park B.C. was again President and again played no games, due, once again, to the Covid pandemic.
2022 Congresbury B.C. joined the association.
Kingswood & Hanham B.C. left the association.
29 Member clubs.
Derek Severs of Olveston & District B.C. was appointed as President, Derek has already achieved the honour of being President of Gloucestershire Bowling Association in 1991, and the Gloucestershire Indoor Bowling Association,
