Bedford Bowling Club to celebrate 60th anniversary

BEDFORD Bowling Club, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next month, is aiming to create a school competition in a bid to expand the club.

The club, which has more than 100 full members and about 500 social members, will be holding an open day on October 6.

Two members will be presented with badges acknowledging 25 and 50 years of playing bowls as part of the event.

Life member and nine-time club singles champion Cliff Graybook said that in 1990, Bedford was the biggest club in the State with 13 teams playing on Saturdays and 16 teams on Thursdays.

“In June 1958, some gentleman who lived across the road called Harry Scott wanted to get a bowling club going because all this was swamp,” he said.

“It all got rolled out, they put down a couple of greens, took two years to get it all going and about 1961, they started their first bowling game and had a tin shed as a clubhouse.”

President Eric Edelman said the club was looking forward to celebrating milestone.

“The club is where it is today with a lot of help from the City of Bayswater – financially and morally through their support,” he said.

“What makes the club is the members – without the members’ support, we wouldn’t be here.

“We are very strong on community bowls during the summer which is on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights and from those nights, we hope to attract full time members to play competition bowls.”

Vice president David Watson said there would be a more “concerted effort” in approaching schools this season, with the aim of forming a competition for kids.

“Over the last few years, there has been a gradual decline in full membership and there has been more of an increase in social members,” he said.

“We are focusing on community now and trying to embrace other sports and other members to come and join with us.”

For information, visit bedfordbowlingclub.club or call 9370 2454.