Newmarket Avenue Bowls Club
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Diamond Jubilee Newmarket Avenue Bowls Club 1996
"A Brief look at how it all Began" 1936 - 1996
Taken From the Newmarket Journal (Word For Word) The Announcement Of A New Green Known As. "The Newmarket Avenue Bowls Club" 14Th April 1936.
NEWMARKET'S NEW BOWLING CLUB A Cumberland Turf Green.
Last autumn a Company was formed for the purpose of providing Newmarket with a new and up-to-date bowling green. The Directors are-Mr. M. H. Benson (Chairman), Capt. T. Hogg
(Vice Chairman), Mr D. H. Lloyd, Mr. W. D. Gilbert, Mr F. G. Russell, Mr. W. H. Bryant, Mr E. .S Heasman, Mr. J. G. Taylor, and Mr. H. G. Wal.
A plot of land in The Avenue, with a frontage of about 200 feet, and a similar depth, was purchased, and on this site one of the finest Cumberland turf bowling greens in the Kingdom has been constructed by the well-known firm of Massons . J. and D. Provan, of Glasgow, who laid out the excellent greens at Chesterton, and Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge.
A very comfortable and well-equipped b-house is now in course of erection and will be completed in a few weeks. The building was designed by Mr Cecil G.Rayner, LR I.B. A charted architect, Newmarket, and the work is being carried out by M.r W. P. King of Exning.
The elevation, overlooking the green is picturesque and pleasing. A wide veranda extends across the frontage, and above it is a balcony, approached by a staircase at the rear.
The interior accommodation, which admirably planned, comprises a spacious lounge, entered from the veranda by two doors, a changing. room, a bar, and excellent modern sanitary conveniences
The cost of the site was £415, and £685 has been expanded upon the green and paths. A further £900 is being spent upon the club- house, fencing, furniture and implements, making the total expenditure £2,000.
The annual subscription will be two guineas for playing members and one guinea for non-playing members, and each member must subscribe not less than one £1 share.
A number of well-known residents in the town and district have given donations towards the capital expenditure; and it is hoped that the whole. of the capital. required will be provided before the season starts.
It is not intended that any dividend should be paid upon the shares the whole of the Club's income will be utilised in maintaining the green and club premises, in order that they may be kept in first class condition. It is intended to affiliate the Club with the English Bowling Association, and no doubt county matches will be played on the new green.
The opening day will be about the middle of May. Letters have been sent out to numerous residents in the town and district inviting them to join the Club, and the response has been most encouraging. The Directors, however, feel that a number of possible members may have been overlooked, and if any gentleman who wishes to join will communicate with the Club Secretary, Mr. A. A. Richardson High Street, his committee in application will come before the due course. It should be stated that it is not proposed to admit ladies as members.
The first meeting of members will be held very shortly, when the officers for the year will be elected.
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The Opening Day Saturday 27Th June 1936
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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INAUGURAL GAME
INAUGURAL GAME.
A two-rink match between members of the executive of Cambs. Bowling Association and members of The Avenue Club subsequently took place and resulted as under :-
T. Gibson, B. F. Pretty, E.Pilgrim,
F. G. Alderidge (Avenue) ....………. 9
Stallybrass, Driver, Dicker, Ellis
(Executive) ……………………………………. 18
M. H. Benson, W. H. Bryant, Capt.
T. Hogg, F. Cook ………………………12
L. W. G. Baker, H. W. Keating, T.
W. O. Mot, J. R. Atkin…………………….….11
21 29
Several games were also arranged between members of the Club.
Past Presidents message 1996
Club Membership
Are you an actibe member ? The kind that would be missed,
Or are you just content that your on the list?
Do you attend club meetings & mingle with the flock ?
Or do you stay away from them & criticise &knock?
Do you take an active part to help the club
along ?
Or are you satisfied to be the kind who just belongs ?
Do you ever work on committees, to see there
is no trick?
Or leabe the work ot just a few & talk about the clique?
So come to meetings often & help with hand & heart, don't be just a member but take an active part.
Tony Holloway President 1996