Original badge with Canterbury Bells as a motif
The First 125 years
1897 On 11 May a meeting of bowlers met to form the Club. Mr W Ladd was elected President and Mr A Ledger was elected Hon Secretary (a position he held for 27.5 years). On 25 May a General Meeting agreed the Club be called the 'Diamond Jubilee Bowling Club' in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
The Officers of the Club in subsequent years, with names still familiar today with Cups played for on annual basis.
1898 On 26 June the Club played its first recorded match against ""The Ship" of Faversham.
1899 Renamed 'Canterbury Bowling Club' - the name which remains to the present day.
1902 We moved to our second site - the Old Dover Road site which is now occupied by the Canterbury Police Station.
1907 The Club affiliated to the newly formed English Bowling Association.
1910 The Club acquired the Summer House.
1911 Canterbury Bowling Club became a founder member of the Kent County Bowling Association (KCBA).
1930 The Club purchased its own ground at the Nunnery Road/ Oxford Road site and on 1 May a match was held between the Club and KCBA.
1932 In September the Club won the County Triples. The first time this competition was held.
1944 The Matthew Cup was presented by member and local dentist A C Matthew. Now competed for annually in the Matthew/Allen Pairs competition.
1945 It was decided that the Pavilion needed new curtains. The supplier not only needed cash, but also 120 clothing coupons.
1948 The Club adopted a new badge taking the Coat of Arms of the City of Canterbury as its centrepiece. This includes three black choughs which are thought to be taken from the arms of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop murdered in the Cathedral in 1170.
1949 Club President A V Allen presents a Cup. Now competed for annually in the Matthew/Allen Pairs competition.
1954 Kent County Rink Champions
1955 Kent County Singles champion A Bailey
1956 Kent County Pairs champions F B Anderson and W C Holness
1966 Ladies Section first established with the election of their first Officers and Committee. Affiliation to the Kent County Women’s Bowling Association - KCWBA - soon followed.
1970 A bequest from the estate of past member Major Carroll (Club President in 1944) is made for £105 of which £30 was to provide for a Cup to be competed for annually by men bowlers.
1980 Win Doubleday, Margaret Amos, Doreen Williams and Daphne Kennedy (all unbadged players) win the English National Fours title.
1982 Len and Elsie Belmore present the Belmore Cup to institute a Men v Ladies annual match.
1985 Ted Dickins as President for the year provides a Trophy for an annual mixed triples competition.
1994 The Club decided that it wished to move from their present site and Canterbury Council expressed the view that a possible location might be Ridlands Farm which they owned close to the hospital.
1997 Centenary Year playing at the Nunnery Road green in old style dress.
David Parker, Chairman and Managing Director of Parker Steel Ltd presents the Centenary Cup (competed for annually) in memory of his grandfather, John Parker, a founder member in 1897 of the Club
2001 The Club moved to its present site at South Canterbury Road. A purpose-built site with two greens, modern clubhouse, gardens and ample car parking facilities.
2002 Rosemary Taylor presents the Alan Taylor Memorial Cup in memory of her husband Alan. A trophy for a singles competition for those over 65.
2011 Canterbury Bowling Club awarded 'Bowls England Club of the Year' 2010.
2012 Voted Runners Up - Senior Sports Club 2011 - Canterbury and District Sports Awards Ladies Section celebrate 50 years.
2022 Club celebrates 125-year anniversary; the Club expands the accommodation with a new lounge area; and the Men’s team win the Cox Cup for the first time since 1929.
Photo Archives
We are blessed with photography enthusiasts in the Club and below are links to photos of events over the last few years.
2016 Casino Night - December 2016 (22 photos)
2017 Finals Day Photo Album (75 photos)
2018 Men's and Ladies' Opening Days (16 photos)
2019 Winners at the Celebratory evening (1 photo)
2020 Covid was the winner (no photos)
2021 Ellen Falkner visit (25 photos)
Finals Day winners (12 photos)
2022 Chelsea Pensioners' visit (136 photos)
2023 Opening days 2023
2024 Opening days 2024
2025
Appearances on TV
125th Anniversary 2022 - two News items on BBC SouthEast, both Lunchtime and Evening News. The two links below have ceased to work, following a reorganisation by the BBC. We are attempting to get re-connected.
Memories of the move to South Canterbury Road
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