Maulden Bowls Club

Moor Lane, Maulden, Bedfordshire MK45 2DJ

www.mauldenbc.club

Established 1923

A Potted History of Maulden Bowling Club

by Ron Garner a member for over 57 years

The club was founded in 1923.

The following details are taken from cuttings from the 'Ampthill News' written by Maulden correspondent Mr Charles Sinfield.

14th April 1923

Now that the recreational ground is assured to the Parish and the games and amusements of the younger generation are catered for, the older ones have decided that their turn has come. A meeting was therefore held in the reading room on Friday evening with the Rector, Rev H. Wilcox presiding, when it was decided to start a bowls and quoits club. preliminary arrangements were made and a committee appointed and it was decided to ask the Parish Council to grant the use of the recreation ground to be used as a bowling green.

12th May 1923

In the same way The Bowls Club is without a pitch, they hope to play Quoits this season and the Rector kindly offered the use of his lawn once a week, they will get some practice.

26th May 1923

The first game on the Rectors lawn (Rector became the 1st club president) (Rectory now Maulden Grange)

28th July 1923

Games on the Rectory laen.

4th August 1923

Bowls Tournament and prize distribution held on the Rectory lawn1st prize Reg Brown, 2nd Prize Frank Taylor. (Reg Brown one of the founder members was invalided out of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and wore a heavy leg iron, this never prevented him playing bowls or walking up from his cottage in Duck End to the White Heart

28th August 1923

a pleasant and well attended Whist Drive was held in the infants school on Tuesday with the object of helping the funds for the Bowls Club . Winners 1st Prize Ladies - A handsome chain bag given by Professor Albert Richardson of Ampthill to Miss Munford. 2nd prize - A silver plated butter dish and knife given by Miss Osborn of Ampthill won by Miss Revall, a consolation prize, a butter knife given by Mr A D Gee of Maulden won by Mrs Cyril Sharp. Winner gentlemen - 1st Prize A valuable ase of pipes given by A. H. Wingfield of Ampthill, to Mt J. Smith 2nd Prize a Brass Ewer given by Mr A D Gee to Mr. F.C.D Gee to Mr A V Sinfield. After the presentation, a dance took place for which many stayed Mr E White was MC and Miss Swaffield was pianist.

1st September 1923

Game at Ampthill and lost, even so an enjoyable game.

29th September 1923

Last game on the Rector's lawn by lamplight.

3rd November 1923

A meeting was held aand the Hon. Sec Mr. Reg Brown announced that the club had about £5 in hand. it decided to arrange a whist drive and other events in order to raise funds for levelling The Green which cost £12, a hut for the storage of the property of the club will also be purchased if funds permit. A vote of thanks was given to the vicar for the loan of his lawn.

24th November 1923

At a whist drive there were 22 tables, Prizes Ladies 1st Prize Miss C.M Allen ,2nd prize Miss G. Goodward, 3rd Prize Mrs P Giles. Gents 1st Prize Mr A.V. Sinfield, 2nd Prize Mr G. Taylor, 3rd Prize Mr H Newbury.

1st December 1923

The Bowls Club wrote to the Parish Council for permission to change the site of their Green to a more level part or Recreation ground near the Ampthill Road (opposite the war memorial) and to erect a hut. Both were granted, the latter subject to the consent of the landlord A. H. Wingfield.

5th January 1924

A successful and well attended Fancy Dress Ball took place o the 28th December 1923 in the infants school, in aid of the Bowling Club, many of the costumes were pretty and original. The awards of the judges - Captain and Mrs Howard were Ladies 1st Prize Miss N Brown, (If Winter Comes), 2nd Mary Sinfield (Sun Flowers), Gents 1st Prize A Haskell (Arab Sheik), 2nd Prize H. Cole (Chinaman). Special prize A Lowe. Amr Alec Haskell of Ampthill was M.C and Miss Duncome and C. Coles were Pianists.

12th January 1924

The Club disbursed some of their wealth in the erection of a pavilion.

2nd February 1924

A whist drive arranged by Mr. Reg Brown and his committee was held at the infants school on Friday evening - there were 14 tables and with Mr. Mack of Ampthill as M.C a pleasant evening was spentRefreshments were provided by Mrs. C Sharp, P Fisher, S Sinfield and E Odell. Prizes for the whist drive were awarded as follows - Ladies 1st Miss e Woodland, 2nd Miss C Harris, 3rd Mrs P Giles. Gents - 1st Mr F Bird, 2nd Mr Facer, 3rd Mr. G Lowe.

1st March 1924

Whist Drive, Prize presented by Miss G Woodward, given to Ladies - 1st Mrs S Summerfield, 2nd Miss G Bandee - consolation prizeMiss Vera Robinson - Gents - 1st R. brown, 2nd F Bird, Consolation - Mr Hopkins.

21st March 1924

The club were able to get on with the turfing of the new green.

This ends Charles Sinfield's Report