Milestone for Bushey Bowling Club (From Watford Observer)
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A century of bowling for Bushey club
12:29pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Amie Mulderrig, Features Writer
Stuart Lake and Janet Sellek with members of Bushey Bowling Club.
Members of Bushey Bowling Club rolled their bowls with extra enthusiasm along the green yesterday (Thursday), as they celebrated the club’s 100th anniversary.
Joining them, were members of Bowls England, the national governing body for the sport of Flat Green Lawn Bowls in England, along with its president Stuart Lake, for the festivities.
After sitting down to tea and sandwiches at the clubhouse in King George Recreation Ground, the 65-strong group, dressed immaculately in their whites and team colours, took to the green for a friendly match.
Bushey Bowling Club’s first female president, Janet Sellek, who has been a member for 40 years, said she was over the moon that the club was celebrating 100 years.
She said: "It really is quite an achievement to reach this milestone and we’re all very proud of it.
"But there have been a lot of changes over the years. When the club was set up in 1912, women couldn’t join. By 1939, they could only play if they were invited to do so by male members.
"Now we have 35 ladies as members and 70 males, so we’re slowly catching up.
"I joined after I injured my spine. I used to play a lot of squash, but I was advised I couldn't do that any more, so I took up bowls and have enjoyed playing ever since.
"Many people are under the misapprehension that bowls is for older people, but it’s not the case. We’re getting younger members all the time.
"It’s a wonderfully social club and we all get on very well."
Bushey Bowling Club is self-funding and overseen by the main management committee, which meets eight times a year.
Club members take part in a myriad of competitions, from internal through leagues, Watford, district and county.
There are separate ladies’, men’s, veterans, mixed matches and club days including an aggregate competition on Tuesday mornings, throughout the season – which runs from late April, early May until the end of September, early October.
To find out more about Bushey Bowling Club, visit www.busheybowlingclub.x10.mx/.
