The English Bowls Association (EBA) celebrates its 120-year anniversary this year, and the South London Bowling Club played a pivotal role in fostering a new era for lawn bowls in 1903.
Secretary of the club, Wendy Davidson, has been involved in UK bowls for the past four years and has stressed the importance of the club and the association to the community.
She said: “The club is a cornerstone of the summer for many of our members.
“The chance to spend an afternoon or evening playing a fascinating game in good company is not to be missed and brings about companionship and friendship.”
The formation of the EBA was the trigger that enabled the sport to progress and has since been merged to form Bowls England, which governs today’s game.
Bowls has now become a widely supported game, and local clubs are always open to new participants taking part.
Davidson added: “Having a formal association and rules has enabled bowls to be an international sport and I enjoyed going to see it at the Commonwealth Games last year.
“The sport can be played as competitively as one wishes – from a friendly game on a Friday night through to district, county and national competitions.
“Go along to your local bowls club and give it a go. Most clubs including South London have spare bowls, so you don’t need any equipment before having a try.”
W. G. Grace, often regarded as the ‘father’ of English cricket, was an avid bowls player and was the first president of the EBA.
Grace, alongside Tom Robertson, who was the president of the EBA in 1906, founded the club and played at the club on many occasions.
The club was chosen to host some of the first international matches played in July 1913 between the four countries of the United Kingdom.
South London Bowling Club also has the honour of providing more English international players than any other English club to date, albeit in the earlier part of the 20th century.
All images courtesy of South London Bowling Club
