Club History
History of Dinas Powis Bowling Club 1906 - 2006
Lawn bowls can claim to be the oldest sport still being played in the UK. The first set of rules to be published was in 1670 by none other than King Charles II. This is some 70 years before rules for golf or cricket were first published. Several clubs claim to be the oldest, there is evidence that the green used by Southampton (Old Bowling Green) Bowls Club was first used in 1187 with the first game of bowls (played to similar rules used now) in 1299. However, there is still some debate between sports historians with the earliest categorical evidence of bowls being played circa 1500.
It was around this time the game took off in popularity being played by all classes of men, often associated with large sums of money wagered on the outcome of games. There have been periods in history when bowls has been banned from being played by the “working” man. In the 16th century it was considered an unwelcome distraction from the strategically essential archery practice, then in the 17th and 18th century the church intervened to have playing of the game banned on the Sabbath.
There is a famous story that Sir Francis Drake insisted on finishing his game of bowls at Plymouth Hoe before taking on and defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) makes several mentions of Bowls (or bowles) in his poems and plays, including Cymbeline, King Lear and Hamlet.
In 1850 William Mitchell, a Glaswegian solicitor, drew up a set of rules which were incorporated by the Scottish Bowling Association, on its formation, in 1892. It is these rules that are the basis for the current "Crystal Mark v4.0” rules. Incidentally these rules were adopted in 1903 by the English Bowling Association, which succeeded the Imperial Association, under the leadership of the famous W. G. Grace, followed closely by the Welsh and Irish associations, and most importantly the International Bowling Board. The name of this organisation was changed to the World Bowls Board and subsequently to World Bowls Ltd.
The Club shares its origin with the Dinas Powis Tennis Club, the joint name being used in 1907 although bowls had been played in 1906. Welsh Bowling Association records show internationals from Dinas Powis representing Wales in 1903 and 1904. The first photographic record of the existence of the clubhouse and green was taken in 1906.
Because it had its own clubhouse, the Club was able to host the Men's Open Singles Championship of Wales in 1908. Except for the two World Wars it has done so with great success ever since, making the Championship not only the friendliest, but also the premier Open Tournament in Wales . Until 1975 only two Club players had won it, but several have been crowned champions since.
After World War 1 and the death in 1922 of General Lee (landowner and President of both Tennis and Bowling Clubs), Messrs TP Thomas and IB Thomas, along with a number of prominent villagers, broke with the Tennis Club to form an independent Bowls Club. The green was re-laid for the princely sum of £525. This seems expensive, especially as the Club only had a 21 year lease; It only cost £685 to re-lay it in 1947.
1922 started the the long reign of Sir Ivor Thomas who underpinned the Club financially and ran it, first as Secretary and then as President. Not only did he support and promote bowls at club level but he also played a prominent role in the WBA (President in 1928) and internationally as President of the International Bowls Association for 17 years.
During World War Two the clubhouse was used as HQ for the local Home Guard. Throughout the period the green was open for play and friendly matches. In 1944, with the end of the war in sight, C Burns presented the Club with the Championship Cup and RE Morel with the silver trophy cup for the Welsh Open Men's Singles Championship, neither of which can be won outright.
In 1954 the Club bought its freehold for £250, which was just as well for when Sir Ivor died in 1955 there was considerable upheaval and disentanglement required, due to his close control and financial backing. After this the Club had a relatively quiet period, though it was involved in founding the Vale of Glamorgan County Bowling Association, and owed its subsequent success to the support and effort of less prominent villagers. Many of us were newcomers to the village, reflecting its changes and urbanisation.
In the 1980's the Club as a whole became more successful at on the green and also more active in the organisation and running of the game. In 1985 and 1986 the Club won the Carruthers Shield (Welsh Club Championship), only the second club to do so in successive years, and won again in 1997. For the past few years the Club has been the regular home green of the Vale of Glamorgan County Bowling Side which won the 1999 Welsh County Championship.
As a small private club we rely heavily on the commitment, work and effort of our members, both men and ladies who now have full and equal membership status. It is this support, the growing achievements of of our ladies and the increasing involvement of our younger players in the running of the Club makes us confident that the Club will continue for the next 100 years......
