Club History

It started almost 50 years ago around 1959, when a 3 rink green was constructed solely for the use of patients and Administered by the Occupational Therapy Department. Jack Brown the Physiotherapist was assisted by Michael Hammond the Remedial Gymnast in instructing the Patients in the art of bowling. Jack Brown passed away about 18 years ago but Mike Hammond is still well and truly around and is one of the club's most experienced bowlers.

About 5 years on, the site of the 3 rink green was built on. A new 6 rink green was constructed on the present site adjacent to the Staff Social Club and members started to play bowls. Mike says that Jack Brown and he taught most of them how to play. The Runwell Hospital Bowls Club was formed. Apart from Jack Brown and Mike Hammond, Bill Philips was one, and Bryn Thomas was another, of the first members. Bryn was the Secretary at the Hospital for many years and it was he who introduced the "Thomas Trophy" - a competition played annually by bowlers who had never won a bowls trophy before. Mike says this rule was to prevent neither Jack Brown nor himself from winning it!!

On the new green, staff and patients would play matches against such local Essex Clubs as, Whitehall, Rochford, Belfairs, Southend and Alexander.

As years rolled by, there were cut-backs at the hospital. Patients who played bowls were discharged to live in houses in the community, and patient's bowls competitions ceased, leaving the staff to continue playing.

Today, Bowlers must be bona-fide Members of the Runwell Hospital Staff Social Club. The club offers a Social Grade to those wishing to join who are not Hospital Staff. It is from this grade the bowls club endeavours to draw new bowlers - sporting a membership of approximately 75 men and 30 women.