Kegworth Bowls Club

A Short History.

Kegworth Bowls Club was first formed in 1931. The original green was situated on the corner of Whatton Road and Broadhill Road which was then known as Clay Pit Lane, or in Kegworth parlance, 'Clippit Lane'. The original land, originally rented out as allotments, was owned by Mr Robert (Bob) Sutton. The site provided a small shed which was used both for storage purposes and as the club house; no refreshments were provided in those early days and there certainly wasn't a bar.

In 1947 the Club moved to its current location on Nottingham Road. This land, again previously used as allotments, was owned by a gentleman by the name of Mr Neale who also owned a nearby hosiery factory. Mr Neale played bowls himself and offered the Club the land on the understanding that he would provide funds to match whatever was raised by the existing Club members. The first balance sheet showed a profit of thirty pounds, nine shillings and ten pence and Mr Neale, true to his word, matched this amount.

The original green at Nottingham Road was laid, under the supervision and guidance of Albert and Richard Simpson together with Thomas Badger and other Club members, by prisoners of war who were being detained at Sutton Agricultural College ( now Nottingham University). The club house was a shed owned by a Mr Read, locally known as 'Tin Tack Teddy' who worked as a cobbler. Refreshments, in the form of teas, were prepared and provided by the wives of the players. However, due to lack of space at the Club this provision was made from the adult school, now a residential building, located about fifty yards away from the green. Through their initial involvement in providing teas, a ladies playing section was introduced to the Club with the first year's subscription being recorded as ten shillings and six pence.

In the Club minutes dated 14th May 1947, we read of a lady by the name of Mrs Doris Badger, the wife of a local blacksmith, being asked to collect and submit the names of other ladies willing to form a ladies committee. The first recorded president of the ladies section was Mrs Dorothy Gibson (1954); Mrs Gibson was a leading figure in village life and lived with her husband and family on Ashby Road. The first ladies section captain was Mrs Ivy Hall (1954) and the first ladies section champion was Miss Ethel Shaw who resided on Long Lane. 

The first men's section president (1931 to 1945) was Canon Devereaux who was the vicar in Kegworth for many years and the first men's section champion was Mr Terry Pymall.

Many extensions have been made to the club house over the years which, despite the changes retains much of its old charm.

In 2024 the club formally applied to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and this application was approved on 5th September 2024; our charity number is 1209906.