(Above) Photo of the clubhouse today which was built in 2011
The inaugural meeting of the Maresfield Bowling Club (MBC) was held on the 22 June 1948. Permission had been obtained from the Recreation Ground Committee to use part of the ground as a lawn bowling green for local and nearby villagers.
The works of levelling, seeding and fencing of two rinks was carried out by members of the Club and play commenced the following year.
The membership subscription at the time was set at 10 shillings a year! (50p today!)
A third rink was added for 1950 in order that matches could be played against other clubs and the green was eventually expanded to the current four rinks.
The name was changed to “Maresfield Lawn Bowls Club” (MLBC) many years later to avoid confusion after the Wealden Indoor Club was built on the outskirts of the village.
Maresfield Lawn Bowls Club is a small but very friendly club which always welcomes new members. Under normal circumstances, we would play some 50 matches in a season; both home and away as a member of the Horam Bowls League, other friendly matches and internal Club Competitions.
We currently have practice sessions (known as Roll-ups) on Tuesdays at 5 pm and Thursdays at 10.30 am with bowls available and instruction supplied for anyone new to the sport. During the present pandemic Government and Bowls England guidelines are being followed.
Social events are held throughout the year with a summer Barbeque, Harvest Supper and the Annual Dinner. Other events might well include Talks, Quizzes, Beetle Drives and anything else that members might suggest!
Bowls is not just a sport for the elderly. The earlier you start playing, the better you will become. Give it a try – as you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
To present indoor bowlers, why not try our outside green where wind, humidity, dampness and other natural elements just add to the skill of bowling on grass.
As George Bernard Shaw said:
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old,
We grow old because we stop playing.“
For further information please contact:
Greg Roberts – Club Secretary – 01825 761035
Peter Baker – Club Captain – 01892 655321