I am writing to you on behalf of Great Torrington Bowling Club. You may have heard from Fred Niven earlier in the year about our 375th Anniversary that should have been last year but was postponed because of Covid until this year. We are the third oldest Bowling Club in England and on Tuesday August 10th England Bowls, who run Bowls in England, are kindly sending their President, Paul Robson, from Hampshire and his Executive Officers to play a celebratory Bowls match against our club. They will be arriving at 11.00am for lunch and speeches and then play a bowls match in the afternoon. It is a huge honour for our club and in recognition of our long history. Spectators will be welcome.
The club is sited on Castle Hill in the old castle site in Torrington and the old castellated wall surrounding it was constructed by Lord Rolle in around 1846b for the town. The Bowling Club originated on the Old Bowling Green where the Cavalier Mayflower bonfire now sits. The gazebo in the attached photo was erected in the 1850s and houses club equipment these days. Bowls might be considered as a minority sport but it is no mean feat to last for 375 years.
Yours sincerely, Bob Brewer