Taken From the Newmarket

Journal (Word for Word) Saturday 27Th June 1936, A Report of The Opening Day Of The Newmarket Avenue Bowls Club.

 

Thanks to the enterprise of a little group of local gentlemen, Newmarket now possesses a Cumberland turf bowling green which will challenge comparison with the very best in eastern Counties. The green has been laid out on a site in The Avenue, with a frontage of about 200 feet and a similar depth.

 

The green itself has been constructed by Messrs. J and D. Proven, of Glasgow, who laid out the greens at Chesterton and at Brooklands excellent Avenue, Cambridge; and at the rear is a picturesque and comfortable club house, built by Mr W. P. King, of Exning, from. the designs of Mr. Cecil G. Rayner, L.R.I.B.A., of Newmarket 

 

A wide veranda, paved with green tiles, extends across the frontage; and above it is a balcony.

At a slightly higher level is the flat roof of the Club House, approached by a staircase at the rear. The interior accommodation, which is admirably planned, comprises a spacious lounge, with two double doors opening on to the veranda, a bar, a changing room, and excellent modern sanitary arrangements.

 

The exterior walls are roughcast and coloured white, the green paint work of the windows, doors, and the balcony railings making a pleasing contrast.

 

The new green was formally opened on Saturday evening last by Mr. Walter. large attendance included Mr. Raphael. A Benson (President of the Club), m Martin H Executive of the Cam embers of the bridge Bowling Association, quite a number of leading residents in the town, and many ladies. Mr. W. D. Gilbert called upon the President for a few introductory remarks.

 

Mr. M. H. Benson (President) thanked all who had come that evening to attend the formal opening of The Avenue Bowls Club. That bowling green had been provided for the use and benefit of the townsfolk of Newmarket, and to encourage good, clean sport (Applause). They had tried (and he hoped that in that aim they had succeeded) to provide Newmarket with a first-class Cumberland turf green, and also with a club house which he thought they would all agree was a credit to the architect, Mr C. G. Rayner, and the builder, Mr W. P. King. (Hear, hear.).

 

It was up to the members to make the Club a success by adhering to the rules. He asked.

them there to play the game and to do everything in power to uphold the prestige of the Club. He had now to introduce Mr. W. Raphael, who had kindly consented to open the Club, and was glad to be able to announce that Mr. Raphael had generously presented the Committee with a very handsome silver cup-the Raphael Challenge Cup-to be played for under such conditions as

the Committee might decide. (Loud applause.)

 

Mr. Walter Raphael, who was heartily applauded on coming forward, thanked the Executive of the Club for flattering him by asking him to open the new green. As he was coming along that evening, he said to himself, "I only wish our statesman would play bowls instead of attending to politics - it would keep them in good health and would make our pockets fuller." (Laughter and applause.) Still, one could not have everything in this world. The thanks of the Club were in a very great measure due to one member of the Club who had done a great deal for it. He would not mention his name-if he did, that gentleman might get into his car and rush off to the seaside. Did he say "seaside" ?-he meant the "P each." ) Laughter and loud applause.) They had got a wonderful green, and a beautiful club house, and their ground was in a unique position. Most of the residents in Newmarket could get there, from their homes, in three or four minutes; and again, it was a great boon when they were playing matches to be within one minute's walk from the Railway Station.

 

It would certainly not take visiting teams more than one minutes to walk there from the station, unless they stopped at the Coronation Hotel, and then who could tell how long they might be? (Laughter.) A certain wise American said, "I never prophesy unless I know." 

 

He (Mr.Raphael) would not attempt to prophesy that evening He had lived in Newmarket for a good many years and when people asked him where he lived, and he told them, they usually remarked "That's where most of the racehorses come from." In two- or three-years’ time, however, when people asked him where he lived, and he told them "Newmarket" the reply might be "That's where all the finest bowlers in England come from "(Laughter and applause).

 

The flag formally declared the club open The top of the then hoisted on the flag staff on

was club house.

 

Mr Grafton Pryor remarked that now that this? Club had been well and truly opened by Mr Raphael he had to perform a very pleasing duty, and that was to express the very sincere thanks of everybody present, and all the members of The Avenue Bowls Club particularly, ot M Walter Raphael for so Kindly coming that afternoon to perform the opening ceremony.

 

They all knew that there was no finer sportsman living in Newmarket, or anywhere else for that than

Mr. Walter Raphael-(cheers)-and matter took it as a very great honour that he had come to open the club. 

 

They must also not forget to thank him for the very handsome cup which he had presented ot the Club. He had now to invite Mr. Raphael ot send down the first jack and then to bowl the

first two woods, to formally open the green; and he had very great pleasure, on behalf of the Club, in handling Mr. Raphael a silver jack which he would, first of all, put down the green, and then, they hoped, kindly accept as a little token of their appreciation of his services that afternoon. (Applause.)

 

Mr Raphael sent down the jack and then bowled two woods, both of which landed very close the jack, he said he would always keep to as to memento of that occasion.

 

The President thanked the Cambs. County Bowling attending that ceremony. Mr. S. E. Covill, of Ely, Presidents, on behalf of the Cambs Bowling Association, said how pleased the members of the Executive were to attend the opening of that club.

The Avenue Club had a lovely green, and he hoped they would have many and many a good game on it and produce good players whom they would heartily welcome as participants in county matches. (Hear hear.) He thanked the members of The Avenue Club most heartily for the way in which they had received the visitors from the Cambs. Association and were entertaining them.

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