Rushden Research Group: Spencer Park Bowls

Spencer Park

Bowls

c1960

The Northampton Mercury, 2nd June 1922

Rushden's Bowling Green and Pavilion were opened on Saturday.

The Rushden Echo, 4^th August, 1922, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Bowling Green For Rushden
Urban Council Meets a Great Need
Formal Opening

Â Mr. Fred Knight, J.P., on Saturday formally opened the first of the two bowling greens which are being provided in Spencer Park by the Rushden Urban Council. At the opening ceremony Mr. T. Swindall, J.P., chairman of the Urban Council, presided. He was supported by Messrs. F. Knight, J.P., J. Spencer, J.P., F. Corby, T. Wilmott, C. Claridge, J. Hornsby, C. W. Horrell, and C. E. Bayes (members of the Council), Messrs. G. S. Mason, W. B. Madin, W. Beetenson, F. S. F. Piper, and H. Lack (officials of the Council).

The Chairman said it was a splendid idea on the part of the Urban Council to purchase those fields and make them into a park. The place had been wild then, but they were improving it little by little, and he hoped it would be a beauty spot in the course of time. Rushden had been lacking in bowling greens. Last year, owing to the dry weather, they had been unable to get on with the work, but the first green now looked in good condition and he hoped those who played on it would spend many happy hours there.

Mr. Fred Knight (chairman of the Parks Committee of the Urban Council) said that the serious drought last year hindered the work of preparing the green, but they were now able, thanks to the recent rain, to open the first green. It was sometimes said that bowls was “an old man’s game,” but, at least, when they were playing, the old men seemed to forget their troubles. They were merry and light-hearted when they were on the greens, and seemed to grow younger. (Applause.) He trusted that the green and, later, the tennis courts would be appreciated, and used as a source of healthful recreation.

Mr. Knight having bowled the first wood, several groups commenced to play. The Urban Council have provided a certain number of slips, woods, mats, and markers for the use of the players. The charge per hour will be 2d. for the use of the green, 1d. for the use of the slips, and 1d. for the woods, a total of 4d. per hour, and players bringing their own woods and slips would be charged only 2d. an hour. The new green, which is 90 feet by 120 feet, would have been made square but for the limitations of the ground, and the second one – to be ready, it is hoped, early next season, will be the same size. A useful pavilion has been provided, built of wood, with a concrete foundation. The town water is laid on. The work has been done under the direction of Mr. W. B. Madin, the Town Surveyor.

The tennis ground, too, it is confidently anticipated, will be available for next season, and a pavilion will be erected for the tennis players.

Rushden Echo 30th December 1922

First Womens Bowls Match at Spencer Park

Rushden Echo, February 8^th 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Spencer Park Bowls Club—Mr G W Coles, J.P., presided at a meeting of the Rushden Spencer Park Bowling Club on Friday last, at the Waverley Hotel, held to consider if the club should carry on for the coming season and whether the Factory Bowls League should continue as a league or a knock-out competition. Mr Coles said he thought it would be better to do the same as last year—namely, run a Factory League in conjunction with the club. This was agreed to, and it was decided that a meeting be held (Mr Goosey, secretary, to notify the factories in the district) so that league officials could decide on dates and fixtures. A discussion took place on how many “ends” should be played. Mr A Howes thought 15 “ends,” but it was ultimately decided by ten votes to eight that 13 “ends” be played. Mr Coles was elected joint chairman of the club and league. Mr A Dickens proposed that Mr Goosey be joint secretary of the club and the Factory League. This suggestion was adopted. It was decided, and a rule was made to the effect, that if a player resigned from any league factory he gave up all claims to play for the team and could not play for the reserve team either, and if any team was found playing ineligible players they would be penalised two points.

Rushden Echo, 1^st August 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Bowls Competition—Last evening, on the Rushden Spencer Park bowling green, the final for the pair of “woods” presented by Mr. J. J. Clark was played, between Mr. F. Reynolds and Mr. A. Tompson. Mr. Reynolds was the winner, the scores being 21-11. The donor of the woods was the efficient referee. The presentation of the Thurston Cup and the bowls will be made at the annual smoking concert next month.

Rushden Echo, 22^nd August 1924, transcribed by Kay Collins

Bowls—Messrs. Sanders and Sanders’ clickers beat the same firm’s lasters on the Spencer Park green last Friday by 16-7.

The teams were: Clickers, P Stokes, E Bailey, A Draper, and W Smith; lasters, C Hancock, A Jones, J Morris, and C Green.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 8^th September 1944

Thurston Cup—Mr. W. Fuller is again champion of the Rushden Spencer Park Bowling Club after an interval of 21 years. He won the Thurston Cup final before about 100 spectators on Thursday, August 31^st, making a fine recovery after Mr. Reg. James had led him nine shots, and final score was 21-15. There were 32 entries for the competition.

Rushden Echo & Argus, 13th August 1954

Surprise of the week came on Wednesday -€“ there wasn'€™t a drop of rain all day. Rushden'€™s bowling enthusiasts took advantage of the dry and reasonably sunny spell and were out in force on the green at Spencer Park.
Every rink was occupied and it was reported as the busiest time the greens had been throughout the holiday.

1983 and a rather dry bowling green and the pavilion.

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