B&DBA: A History of Current & Bygone Bowling Clubs
Highcliffe Bowling Club was formed in 1975, a year after a meeting was held at St Mark’s Hall, which was attended by over 100 people. The subscription was set at £1 and 88 people paid at the meeting. A few months later in June 1974, the Christchurch Times reported that the Christchurch Borough Council’s Amenities Committee had adopted a report setting out the future policy for the recreation facilities at Nea Meadows. The report concluded that two hard court tennis courts, and some community facilities for the children should be created, in addition to a bowling green, with land put aside for the possibility of extending to a second green, and a clubhouse. The completion, laying out and fencing of the bowling green cost £7,524, with the cost of a new pavilion amounting to £11,000.
The pavilion was opened by the Mayor of Christchurch on 26th July 1975. He described that the money had not come out of the rates, but had come from the sale of land at Wingfield and at the site of Sainsbury supermarket. The newly formed club had concerns around the lease.
The council wanted £1000 annually for rent, however, the club felt that £120 per annum was more reasonable, and would allow for other organisations to share the pavilion and therefore share the rent. With both parties evaluation at differing ends of the scale, negotiations continued into the summer of 1976, however, the Council had decided that no further development at Nea Meadows would take place, which put paid to tennis courts being introduced and other play facilities.
In October 1976, four members met with the Council who requested that the club’s name be changed to Highcliffe Bowls & Social Club and that a Joint Committee be formed. The Joint Committee formed but only lasted until May 1979. The changing of the Club’s name, however, did not take place.
Rent was finally resolved between the Club and the Council, and in April 1978, the first payment of £500 per annum was paid. The lease was for the duration of 20 years, as the Council were unwilling to offer beyond.
The dual obligation to promote both bowling and social activities as a condition of having sole use of the pavilion was confirmed by the Council in the 1990s.
John Irons, a trustee and the longest serving Club member reminisce the past:
“The early days of our Club were notable for a number of reasons, active social bowling, much social activity and great enthusiasm from all the members. Every year members vied for places on the Management Committee and were generous with their time as volunteers.”
Referencing the competitive teams and the quality of the Green, John stated:
“Within ten years, teams were playing in leagues and bowlers were starting to enter outside competitions. However, by the 1990s the green, which had been constructed on a DIY basis by Christchurch Borough Council had, at times, been unplayable. Trenches had been cut across the green to lay more drains and part of it was re laid. but visiting teams and competitors were highly critical of the surface. Added to this the surrounds of paving slabs were breaking up and the banks and ditches needed attention. The Council received the survey reports the Club had commissioned, commented, but nothing changed.”
In the mid-2000s, the Council decided to re-negotiate the lease with the Club, which came at the same time that Nea Meadows became a Local Nature Reserve, covering 5.5 hectares. This would see a monumental change, which is where John picks up the story:
“The Council offered the Club a lease on the green and pavilion: Refuse and the Council would close the green; Acceptance would be a huge undertaking for the members - no member had greenkeeping skills. The maintenance demands were daunting and Club funds low. The estimate to re-construct the green as it should have been done initially was about £100,000 or for an artificial green about £70,000. Much discussion took place with all members being actively involved. Such was the members enthusiasm that it was agreed that with the tremendous effort needed and offered by everyone the lease would be accepted. Somehow the work would be done as money was raised and some day it was hoped that a new green would result. The Club was just too highly valued to let it fail.”
Thinking about his time at the Club, John Irons concluded his recollections:
“I've been thinking of all the members I've known, learnt from, worked with and played with giving me hours of good company. What a range of personalities. Some games come to mind, playing that magic last bowl to win the game and that plonker last bowl to lose the game, playing against Nicky Jones aged 14 who became an England player and playing against David Bryant and Tony Alcock, without winning I might add, so many Club comps of course and winning the Club Championship 10 times sticks in the mind although I did lose more than I won.”
In 2025, Highcliffe celebrated their 50th year as a Club, and achieved a never-before feat of entering the top Section of the B&D Saturday Premier League. Highcliffe BC have announced their introduction to the top leagues, and plan to stay and progress, becoming successful for many more years to come.