A Top Lawn Bowls Club for over a century!
A Centenary Booklet, costing £2 and describing the full history of the club over 100 years, is available from the club secretary. On the left is a picture of the club badge, and on the right a picture taken during a special spoon drive held in 2002.
In 2003 Wendover and Chiltern Hills Bowls Club celebrated its 100th Anniversary. The Club was founded in 1903 by Fred Pedel, licensee at the Shoulder of Mutton called at that time 'The Railway Hotel'.
He established a small three rink green behind the hotel. Fred remained a member until his death in 1948 aged 84. He was a fine player, being a member of the rink which became County Champions twice during the 1930s.
Another member, George Sainsbury, the grandfather of a present club member was runner up in the All England Singles Championship in 1923.
The club moved to its present site in Dobbins Lane in the early 1950s, after the members acquired the land from the Lord of the Manor. The new green was opened in May 1954 after considerable hard work by members
and has had its share of County Honours over the years, particularly the Ladies Section. One member, John How, who died recently aged over ninety and well known locally as a sports reporter, celebrated 50 years continuous membership of the club in 2002,
proving once again that bowling aids longevity.
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The playing season extends from April through to the end of September and the club plays over 70 matches each year and runs competitions amongst the 60 men and 42 Lady members.
There are friendly 'Spoon Drives' on most Tuesday afternoons and county cup and league games on Wednesday evenings. The Spoon Drives continue well supported on Tuesday afternoons throughout the winter inside the clubhouse using 3 shortmats.
The club is affiliated to Bowls England, the Buckinghampshire County Bowls Association, The London & Southern Counties Bowls Association,
the English Women's Bowling Association and the Buckinghampshire County Women's Bowls Association .
The year the club started in 1903 the Parish Council had decided to light up Wendover with 38 gas lamps, sheep were grazing on the Manor Waste,
and Rothschilds had opened a soup kitchen for the poor in Clay Lane.
The early photograph shows some Wendover members including Jack Payne, Fred Pedel and Vic Rance during a tense measuring moment
in a County Match against Essex on 31 Oct 1930. During this year the old green was returfed.
The Club just about survived World War 2, when its pavilion was the H.Q. of the Wendover Home Guard. In the early 1950's the move was made
to Dobbins Lane and since then the club has never looked back, with a spacious club house, a well cared for Green, and a background of
colourful shrubs and flowers.
Both Bucks County and England men and ladies teams played here in 2003 and Wendover is the home of the 'Bucks Vice Presidents Bowls' and the'Bucks Masonic Bowls'. There is a very strong Ladies section. The clubhouse is in great demand by non-bowlers in addition to its own members, because of the excellent facilities that are available. So come and join us, whatever your age for the companionship and competitiveness of the game of bowls.
In 2003 the Wendover & Chiltern Hills Bowls Club celebrated the centenary by holding several prestigious matches in addition to the normal match programme.
The most important was a six rink mens game against England (The English Bowling Association) on Tuesday June 10th 2003. The club lost this time but maybe we can win in 2103 !
The photograph, taken before the start of the game, shows all the players in the match.
Important dates from the match programme for 2009 are:
Saturday April 25....................Turn up and Play - Opening game on the green if the weather is suitable, or indoors on the short mats if not.
Sunday May 31.......................Les Mott (American) Tournament
Sunday June 14.....................Club Triples Cup and Plate Competition
Sunday June 21......................Annual Men v Ladies match
Tuesday June 23....................Mixed Gala Day
Tuesday July 21......................Ladies Gala Day
Sat/Sun September 12/13....Finals Weekend
Sunday September 27...........Annual Captain versus Chairman match
Also worthy of note are the Bucks Cup matches on Wednesday evenings, 20 May and 3, 10, 17, 24, June. Most other Wednesday evenings will be used for the County Leagues. The club has two teams, Wendover Woods in Division 1 Central and Wendover Widgets in Division 2 Central.
OFFICERS 2009
For any further details E-Mail or telephone Brian Shepherd who prepared this webpage.
Map showing location of Wendover & Chiltern Hills Bowls Club
PRESIDENT.....................Anthony E Mogford M.B.E.
CHAIRMAN......................Brian Shepherd
CAPTAIN.........................Jim Banville
VICE-CAPTAINS..............Malcolm Richards and Wendy Hope
TREASURER....................Carol Harding
MEMBERSHIP SEC..........David Rogers
COMPETITIONS SEC......Peter Barksfield
SECRETARY....................Dianne Peel
MATCH SECRETARY......Brian Shepherd ...Phone ... 01296 624586....E-Mail... brianorann@ntlworld.com
New members are always welcome with trained coaches giving free lessons. Why not take up this wonderful
hobby now and enjoy the lovely summer afternoons and evenings playing relaxed, or competitive, bowls.
Club Fixture Card for 2009
LINK to other bowls clubs.
LINK to Bucks County Bowls Site.