Memories – good and bad – have been sparked for many players by the end of competitive bowling on one of the oldest greens in Mid Shropshire
Allscott Heath brought the curtain down on their 92-year-old green with a new open competition that was fittingly won by a legendary figure of the sport in the county.
Peter Farmer, the four-time County Merit winner and 1990 Mid Shropshire Merit champion made the short journey home to Bratton £500 richer while Allscott members were left with their memories – and the exciting prospect of moving ‘over the road’ to a new two-green facility.
And the old green and clubhouse are pictured, along with a glimpse of the new facility literally just over the road.
Bowls club chairman Chris Hayward ran the open and a club spokesman for the former British Sugar club said: “The club started with just one team in 1931 and we now have eight teams competing in various leagues throughout Shropshire.
“When British Sugar decided to close the factory and sell off the site where the club was located there were grave concerns.
“However, with the new housing development on the old factory site and the securing of a 99-year lease and grant from Sport England for the bowling greens, the club’s future is now secured.
“Part of the new facility, with clubhouse on the opposite side of the road, is the laying of two new bowling greens – one of which is artificial, the first in Shropshire we believe, which is causing great interest amongst the bowling fraternity.”