History of Tongham Bowling Club

Established: 1952  

 

The green had three rinks built on Memorial grounds created in recognition of those who lost their lives in the two World Wars. Our Original green keeper was a gardener at Hampton Court.

The original headquarters of the club was the “Cricketers” public house, and when the pub was not big enough the Annual General Meetings were held in  the “old”school behind the church in Tongham. 

 There was no hut until 1954 and the first one was an Army one built with four walls. John McCarthy supplied the hut and Alf Boulton supplied the tables and chairs. no bar or kitchen.

 The badge of the “Tongham Bowling Club” as depicted in the “sealed pattern” above was designed in December 1953 by Lt Col. Howard N. Cole O.B.E.  T.D., Hist.s of the Yaldens, Tongham. The badge consists of a sprig of oak, proper, set on a sable (black) field enclosed within an azure (blue) border upon which is the inscription in the letters of (gold) “ Tongham Bowling Club”. The whole enclosed within a narrow border vert (green). The sprig of oak is taken from the sinister chief quarter of the Arms of the Surrey County Council (which was granted in 1934). On these arms the sprig of oak, included therein as an emblem of the  Rural Parts of Surrey,  in argent (silver) on a sable (black) field. The azure (border) with the or (gold) inscription links with the blue and gold tinctures  from the Arms of the Warren Earls of Surrey (blue and gold chequers) also used in the Arms of the Surrey County Council, whilst the outer vert (green) border is symbolic of the green grass of the Bowling Rink”  

In 1970 a fourth rink was added, and then in 1979 a further two more rinks were added giving us a total of six rinks. There was a bad storm in 1987 which blew our clubhouse roof off. Members of the club all got together and repaired the roof themselves. In 1988 we had a new lady bowling member join to play bowls at an age of 12 years. Emma Castle. It even made the Farnham Herald News. Emma still plays along with her two daughters. In 1993/94 we had two extensions, to the left of the clubhouse we had new ladies and gents changing facilities, and to the right of the clubhouse we had a new kitchen and Bar.

The club celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Anniversary in 2012 and two of our  members Doreen Sandy and Jacqueline Castle wrote a letter to Queen Elizabeth letting her know that it was the 60th Anniversary of our bowls club. The letter gave a brief outline of  how our club has evolved through those years, and what we do now. We were surprised to receive a letter back from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and you can seen both the letter to the Queen and the Queens reply in our bowls club to this day. 

Today we ave a healthy membership of Ladies and Gentlemen, a total of 100 bowling members. We are a friendly and welcoming encouraging  new members and visitors, regardless of age, standard and including beginners. Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings between April to September we have club friendly “Roll Ups” where you can just turn up and join in. Also in the bowling season, from April to September  we enjoy a full list of friendly fixtures, league games and club days. We have a very healthy social events side which is always well attended, this starts at the end of September and runs  through to March. We have Friday pub nights, cards, darts, bingo, pétanque and lots more to carry us through the winter. We also have special lunches ie Christmas , Burns Night to name a few.

Tongham Bowling Club is affiliated to Bowls England, Bowls Surrey, W.S.L.B.A, A & D B.A and F & D B.A.

I hope you found the above interesting and thank you for browsing our website.

If you are interested in knowing more about our Club please do not hesitate to contact us on our website: tongham-bowling-club.org.uk