Marple Park Veterans Bowling Club

Welcome to our Club’s website.

• Contents (Click link to select topic)
• Recent Postings
• About our Club
• Permits and Membership
• News & Notices
• Team Fixtures & Results
• Team Selections & Green Addresses
• Recent Results
• Useful Links
• Photo Gallery
• League Honours Roll call
• Club Honours Roll call
• Bowling Green History
• Bowling Club History
• Memory Lane
• Website Contact

• Recent Postings
• New postings will be highlighted here and you can go to the relevant Contents heading above.
• 23/12/25 – Fixtures – Parks League Cup draw now added for Preliminary and Round 1 matches.
• 19/12/25 – Fixtures – Parks 1 & 2 teams and Ladies team League fixtures for 2026 added.
• 26/11/25 – Photo Gallery – 2025 Season Trophy winners.
• 29/11/24 – the new Marple Community Hub has its own dedicated page on the SMBC website. Here is a link to that page so that members can keep up to date with the latest site developments https://www.stockport.gov.uk/marple-community-hub
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• About our Club
• We are open to anyone aged 60+ or anyone attaining the age of 60 during the playing season.
• We play our home matches at Marple Memorial Park, Stockport Rd, Marple. SK6 6BB
• Including the Marple Ladies team, we have 7 teams playing competitive bowls in 4 different leagues.
• We also have social bowling events and club competitions.
• Our green is open from 1st April to 30th September.
• If you would like to join our club as a playing or social member or want more information, gentlemen should contact Ken Else (0161 258 6343) and ladies should contact Doreen Scotte (0161 427 4334)
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• Permits and Membership
• SMBC have set the cost of a permit for 2025 at £30. This allows you to bowl through to 31/03/26, the nearest winter green is in Torkington Park, Hazel Grove.
• The total cost of membership for 2025 is £46 for team members and £39 for social members. The team members cost includes the £1 fee introduced by the BCGBA for the National Development Strategy. This fee is not payable by social members.
• Anyone getting a permit through other channels will pay either £15 for team membership, including the BCGBA fee, or £8 for social membership.
• Members can pay as follows:
• By cheque made payable to Marple Park Veterans Bowling Club. Either hand in or post to Nigel Humble, 12 Peakforest Road, Marple SK6 7RN
• If you want to pay by bank transfer please contact Nigel Humble (07713 505596) who will give you the necessary account details.
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• News & Notices
• Gate & Padlock
• Please ensure that the bolt on the gate is properly engaged and that the padlock is locked when the last person leaves the green. Please test the gate to ensure the bolt has engaged. Please also scramble the padlock code rather than leave it just one digit out. If you need to know the code for the padlock please contact Gordon Watson, contact details at end of website.
• Covid – 19
• Whilst there are currently no variants of concern circulating in our community it is recommended that, to safeguard and protect other members, if you are displaying symptoms or have tested positive you should not attend at the green until you have had a negative result.
• Typical Green Usage & Contacts
• The screenshot below shows the typical usage of the green, with alternatives for Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and contact names and phone numbers.
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• Team Fixtures (& Results)
• As most of the Leagues we play in are cutting back on the number and content of handbooks, tables of team fixtures for 2025 for all Teams can be found below. Click on links to go to fixture list. Results will also be posted against each fixture.

• Teams – (with links to view other divisional fixtures & results)
• Pairs 1 – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SDV&D=B)
• Pairs 2 – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SDV&D=D)
• C&G A – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=CGLV&D=1)
• C&G B – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=CGLV&D=3)
• Parks 1 – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SPV&D=B)
• Parks 2 – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SPV&D=C)
• Ladies – (https://www.cgleague.co.uk/stockport-parks-ladies/tables.php)
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Pairs 1 Team (Division B)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Mon	06/04
Mon	13/04
Mon	20/04
Mon	27/04
Mon	04/05
Mon	11/05
Mon	18/05
Mon	25/05
Mon	01/06
Mon	08/06
Mon	15/06
Mon	22/06
Mon	29/06
Mon	06/07
Mon	13/07
Mon	20/07
Mon	27/07
Mon	03/08
Mon	10/08
Mon	17/08
Mon	24/08
Mon	31/08
Mon	07/09
Mon	14/09
Mon	21/09
Mon	28/09

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Pairs 2 Team (Division D)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Mon	06/04
Mon	13/04
Mon	20/04
Mon	27/04
Mon	04/05
Mon	11/05
Mon	18/05
Mon	25/05
Mon	01/06
Mon	08/06
Mon	15/06
Mon	22/06
Mon	29/06
Mon	06/07
Mon	13/07
Mon	20/07
Mon	27/07
Mon	03/08
Mon	10/08
Mon	17/08
Mon	24/08
Mon	31/08
Mon	07/09
Mon	14/09
Mon	21/09
Mon	28/09

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C&G A Team (Division 1)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Wed	01/04
Wed	08/04
Wed	15/04
Wed	22/04
Wed	29/04
Wed	06/05
Wed	13/05
Wed	20/05
Wed	27/05
Wed	03/06
Wed	10/06
Wed	17/06
Wed	24/06
Wed	01/07
Wed	08/07
Wed	15/07
Wed	22/07
Wed	29/07
Wed	05/08
Wed	12/08
Wed	19/08
Wed	26/08
Wed	02/09
Wed	09/09
Wed	16/09
Wed	23/09
Wed	30/09

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C&G B Team (Division 3)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Wed	01/04
Wed	08/04
Wed	15/04
Wed	22/04
Wed	29/04
Wed	06/05
Wed	13/05
Wed	20/05
Wed	27/05
Wed	03/06
Wed	10/06
Wed	17/06
Wed	24/06
Wed	01/07
Wed	08/07
Wed	15/07
Wed	22/07
Wed	29/07
Wed	05/08
Wed	12/08
Wed	19/08
Wed	26/08
Wed	02/09
Wed	09/09
Wed	16/09
Wed	23/09
Wed	30/09

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Parks 1 Team (Division B)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Thu	02/04	A	Hyde BC
Thu	09/04	H	Vernon Park 1
Thu	16/04	A	Ryecroft BC 2
Thu	23/04	H	Sth Reddish Park
Thu	30/04	A	Mauldeth Vets
Thu	07/05	H	Beech House
Thu	14/05
Thu	21/05	A	Crown Hotel
Tue	26/05		Cup Prelim – Bye
Thu	28/05	H	Highbank
Thu	04/06	A	Ladybridge BC
Thu	11/06	H	St Thomas Park
Thu	18/06	N	Cup R1 – Hyde Park 2 @ Woodley Sports
Thu	25/06	H	Hyde BC
Thu	02/07	A	Vernon Park 1
Thu	09/07	H	Ryecroft BC 2
Thu	16/07		Cup R2 –
Thu	23/07	A	Sth Reddish Park
Thu	30/07	H	Mauldeth Vets
Thu	06/08	A	Beech House
Thu	13/08		Cup R3 –
Thu	20/08
Thu	27/08	H	Crown Hotel
Thu	03/09	A	Highbank
Tue	08/09		Cup SF –
Thu	10/09	H	Ladybridge BC
Thu	17/09	A	St Thomas Park
Tue	22/09		Cup F –
Thu	24/09

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Parks 2 Team (Division C)

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Thu	02/04	H	Shaw Heath Park 2
Thu	09/04	A	Vernon Park
Thu	16/04	H	Woodley Sports 2
Thu	23/04	A	James North
Thu	30/04	H	Cale Green Park 2
Tue	05/05	A	Victoria BC 3
Thu	07/05
Thu	14/05	H	Heaton Moor Park
Thu	21/05
Tue	22/05	N	Cup Prelim – Highbank @ Victoria BC
Thu	28/05	A	West Heaton
Thu	04/06	H	Torkington Park
Thu	11/06	A	Thornfield Park
Thu	18/06		Cup R1 –
Thu	25/06	A	Shaw Heath Park 2
Thu	02/07	H	Vernon Park 2
Thu	09/07	A	Woodley Sports 2
Thu	16/07		Cup R2 –
Thu	23/07	H	James North
Thu	30/07	A	Cale Green Park 2
Thu	06/08	H	Victoria BC 3
Thu	13/08		Cup R3 –
Thu	20/08	A	Heaton Moor Park
Thu	27/08
Thu	03/09	H	West Heaton
Tue	08/09		Cup SF –
Thu	10/09	A	Torkington Park
Thu	17/09	H	Thornfield Park
Tue	22/09		Cup F –
Thu	24/09

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Ladies Team

Day	Date		Opponent	St	Self	Opp
Tue	07/04
Tue	14/04	H	Nth Etchells
Tue	21/04	H	Vernon
Tue	28/04	A	Shaw Heath
Tue	05/05	H	Torkington
Tue	12/05	A	Hyde Park
Tue	19/05	H	Thornfield
Tue	26/05	A	South Reddish
Tue	02/06	H	Alexandra Park
Tue	09/06
Tue	16/06
Tue	23/06	A	Nth Etchells
Tue	30/06	A	Vernon
Tue	07/07	H	Shaw Heath
Tue	14/07	A	Torkington
Tue	21/07	H	Hyde Park
Tue	28/07	A	Thornfield
Tue	04/08	H	South Reddish
Tue	11/08
Tue	18/08	A	Alexandra Park
Tue	25/08
Tue	01/09
Tue	08/09
Tue	15/09
Tue	22/09
Tue	29/09

• Back to Teams
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• Team Selections
• Notes for everyone
• If your team is playing away the address of the green can be found in the Green Addresses Table below.
• Notes for team captains
• Phone, text or email your match results to Gordon Watson, player initials are sufficient for identification. Use DHa for David Hardman and DHo for David Hoyle.

Pairs 1	Pairs 2
Mon 06/04/26	Mon 06/04/26
Home v	Away v
Selections	Selections
Reserve(s)	Reserve(s)

C&G A	C&G B
Wed 01/04/26	Wed 01/04/26
Home v	Away v
Selections	Selections
Reserve(s)	Reserve(s)

Parks 1	Parks 2
Thu 02/04/26	Thu 02/04/26
Away v Hyde BC	Home v Shaw Heath Park 2
Selections	Selections
Reserve(s)	Reserve(s)

Green Addresses

Club Name(s)	Address	PC
Albert	Old Lansdowne Rd, West Didsbury	M20 2PA
Beech House	Albert Rd, Levenshulme	M19 2EX
Cale Green Park	Heath Rd, Cale Green	SK2 6JN
Cheadle CC/Cons	Oak Rd, Cheadle	SK8 2AA
Crown/Hotel	Buxton Rd, Great Moor	SK2 7JQ
Debdale	Hyde Rd, Gorton	M18 7LN
Didsbury BC/Park	Sandhurst Rd, Didsbury	M20 5LS
Etherow	The Boulevard, Hollingsworth, Hyde	SK14 8PL
Gatley Rec	Gatley Park, Northenden Rd, Gatley	SK8 4EN
George & Dragon	Bennet St, Hyde	SK14 4TQ
Glossop	North Rd, Glossop	SK13 7AU
Grange	151 Edgeley Rd, Stockport	SK3 0TL
Grapes Hotel	289 Stockport Rd, Gee Cross, Hyde	Sk14 5RU
Great Moor/S&S	Store St, Great Moor	SK2 7HA
Hadfield	Paradise St, Hadfield	SK13 1BA
Hazel Grove	Douglas Rd, Hazel Grove	SK7 4JG
Heald Green	100 Wilmslow Rd, Heald Green	SK8 3DG
Heaton Moor Park	Peel Moat Rd, Heaton Moor	SK4 4PH
High Bank Park	Alston Rd, Gorton	M18 8US
High Lane	Buxton Rd, High Lane	SK6 8DR
Houldsworth Park	Houldsworth St, Reddish	SK5 6BN
Houldsworth/WMC	Leamington Rd, Reddish	SK5 6BD
Hyde BC	Bowling Green St, Hyde	SK14 1DJ
Hyde Park	Lodge Lane (off Park Rd), Hyde	SK14 4JX
James North	Booth St, Hyde	SK14 1PX
Ladybarn	Mauldeth Rd, Fallowfield	M20 4NL
Ladybridge BC/Park	Meadway, Ladybridge Rd, Cheadle Hulme	SK8 5NZ
Lloyds Hotel	Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton -cum-Hardy	M21 9AN
LMRCA	Edgeley Rd, Cheadle Heath	SK3 0TR
Manor Park	Manor Park Rd, Glossop	SK13 7SH
Mauldeth Vets	Thornfield Park, Thornfield Rd, Heaton Moor	SK4 3JT
New Mills	Church Lane, New Mills	SK22 4NP
Northenden Soc	412 Palatine Rd, Northenden	M22 4JT
Northern Etchells	Hollyhedge Park, Hollyhedge Rd, Sharston	M22 4JP
Nursery	Green Lane, Norris Bank	SK4 2NA
Poynton Sports	London Rd North, Poynton	SK12 1AG
Poynton WM/WMC	142 Park Lane, Poynton	SK12 1RG
Romiley Arms	Stockport Rd, Romiley	SK6 4BN
Ryecroft	Park Ave, Cheadle Hulme	SK8 6EU
Ryecroft BC	Ryecroft Hall, Manchester Rd, Audenshaw	M34 5ZJ
Shaw Heath/Park	Alexandra Park, Edgeley Rd, Stockport	SK3 0TT
St Thomas Park	Hempshaw Lane, Stockport	SK1 4KP
South Reddish/Park	Greg St, South Reddish	SK5 7LB
Spring Gardens	Compstall Rd, Marple Bridge	SK6 5HE
Stalybridge Rec	Lord St, Dukinfield	SK16 5JT
Stockport CC	Beech Rd, Cale Green	SK3 8HD
SWMCC	Ellesmere Rd, Chorlton	M21 0SG
Thorn Grove	Thorn Grove, Cheadle Hulme	SK8 7LB
Thornfield Park	Thornfield Park, Heaton Moor	SK4 3JT
Torkington Park	Torkington Rd, Hazel Grove	SK7 4RQ
Vernon Park	Turncroft Lane, Stockport	SK1 4AR
Victoria/BC	Webb Lane, Stockport	SK1 4EL
Waggon & Horses	225 Kingsway, Gatley	SK8 1LA
West Heaton	Princes Rd, Heaton Moor	SK4 3NQ
Wilmslow Con	Grove Ave, Wilmslow	SK9 5EG
Withington	Derby Rd, Withington	M14 6UX
Woodley/Sports	Lambeth Grove, Woodley	SK6 1QX

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• Recent Results
• Going forward only the results for non League & Cup matches will be posted here. All team League & Cup results are now posted in the Team Fixtures section.

• To view player averages, click on the appropriate league link below or for player summaries across all Vets leagues see the screenshot photo below.
• Pairs 1 Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=SDV&T=Marple+Park+1
• Pairs 2 Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=SDV&T=Marple+Park+2
• C&G A Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=CGLV&T=Marple+A
• C&G B Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=CGLV&T=Marple+B
• Parks 1 Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=SPV&T=Marple+Park+1
• Parks 2 Team
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/team.php?L=SPV&T=Marple+Park+2
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• Useful Links
• Leagues in which Club Teams play>
• Stockport and District Bowling League
• Pairs 1 Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SDV&D=B
• Pairs 2 Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SDV&D=D
• Cheadle & Gatley District Bowling League
• C&G A Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=CGLV&D=1
• C&G B Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=CGLV&D=3
• Stockport & District Parks Veterans Bowling League
• Parks 1 Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SPV&D=B
• Parks 2 Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/archives/div.php?L=SPV&D=C
• Stockport and District Public Parks Ladies Amateur Bowling League
• Marple Ladies Team Link>
• https://www.cgleague.co.uk/stockport-parks-ladies/tables.php
• Other Leagues
• click the link below and select the league you want to view.
• https://cgleague.co.uk
• Other Links
• British Crown Green Bowling Assoc’n
• https://www.bcgba.org.uk
• Cheshire County Bowling Assoc’n
• https://www.cheshirecountybowls.com
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• Photo Gallery

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• League Honours Roll Call
• Season/Team/Honour
• 2024 C&G B Team – Div 4 Runners Up
• 2023 C&G B Team – Div 5 Winners
• 2023 Parks 1 Team – Div B Winners
• 2022 S&D Pairs Team -Div C Winners (see Photo Gallery)
• 2022 C&G B Team – Div 5 Runners Up
• 2021 S&D Pairs Team – Div C Runners Up
• 2021 Parks 2 Team – Div D Runners Up
• 2019 C&G A Team – Div 2 Runners Up
• 2019 Parks 1 Team – Div B Winners (see Photo Gallery)
• 2017 C&G A Team – Div 2 Runners Up
• 2016 C&G B Team – Div 5 Winners (see Photo Gallery)

• 2015 C&G A Team – Div 3 Winners
• Season/Member/Honour
• 2024 D Turner awarded most improved player trophy by C&G League (See Photo Gallery).
• 2023 B Kelly & T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team) – Winners Div B Averages. T Diffley and P Townend finished 3rd and 4th respectively.
• 2023 B Axon (C&G B Team) – Winner Div 5 Averages.
• 2023 B Kelly (Parks 1 Team) – Winner Div B Averages.
• 2023 D Turner (Parks 2 Team) – Winner Div C Averages.
• 2022 B Kelly & T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team) – Joint Runners Up Div C Averages
• 2022 T Lord (C&G B Team) – Runner Up Div 5 Averages
• 2021 B Kelly & T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team – Joint Winners Div C Averages (unbeaten throughout season)
• 2019 T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team) – Runner Up Div C Averages
• 2018 B Kelly (S&D Pairs Team) – Winner Div C Averages
• 2018 T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team) – Runner Up Div C Averages
• 2018 B Kelly (C&G B Team) – Winner Div 4 Averages
• 2017 B Kelly (S&D Pairs Team) – Winner Div C Averages
• 2017 T Swettenham (S&D Pairs Team) – Runner Up Div C Averages
• 2015 C Plant (C&G B Team) – Runner Up Div 5 Averages
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• Club Honours Roll Call
• The following trophies are awarded to the player with the best average over the season having played in at least half of the league matches;
• Ian Joce Trophy – Pairs 1 Team
• Frank Taylor Trophy – Pairs 2 Team (first awarded 2024 Season)
• Jim Barton Cup – C&G A Team
• Barry Kinder Trophy – C&G B Team
• Brighouse Cup – Parks 1 Team
• Ken Wood Shield – Parks 2 Team
• Best Averages
• 2025 Team/Winner
• Pairs 1 – P Townend
• Pairs 2 – K Else
• C&G A – H Reade
• C&G B – C Davison
• Parks 1 – D Hardman & H Reade (Joint Winners)
• Parks 2 – K Glen
• 2024 Team/Winner
• Pairs 1 – B Kelly
• Pairs 2 – D Jackson
• C&G A – B Kelly
• C&G B – K Glen
• Parks 1 – H Reade
• Parks 2 – K Glen
• 2023 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – B Kelly & T Swettenham (Joint Winners)
• C&G A – B Kelly
• C&G B – B Axon
• Parks 1 – B Kelly
• Parks 2 – D Turner
• 2022 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – B Kelly & T Swettenham (Joint Winners)
• C&G A – B Kelly
• C&G B – T Lord
• Parks 1 – T Swettenham
• Parks 2 – B Smith
• 2021 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – B Kelly & T Swettenham (Joint Winners)
• C&G A – B Kelly
• C&G B – C Davison
• Parks 1 – D Hardman
• Parks 2 – N Humble
• 2020 Team/Winner
• No competitive bowling due to Covid
• 2019 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – T Swettenham
• C&G A – B Kelly
• C&G B – T Lord
• Parks 1 – H Reade
• Parks 2 – I Wakefield
• 2018 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – B Kelly
• C&G A – T Swettenham
• C&G B – B Kelly
• Parks 1 – B Kelly
• Parks 2 – G Watson
• 2017 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – B Kelly
• C&G A – D Hardman
• C&G B – B Kelly
• Parks 1 – H Reade
• Parks 2 – B Smith
• 2016 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – T Swettenham
• C&G A – H Reade
• C&G B – C Carsberg
• Parks 1 – D Hardman
• Parks 2 – B Kelly
• 2015 Team/Winner
• S&D Pairs – R Barratt
• C&G A – H Reade
• C&G B – C Plant
• Parks 1 – H Reade
• Parks 2 – T Swettenham

• Other Club Competitions
• 2025
• Ryder Cup – Pyramid Ladder – P Townend (inaugural season)
• Jack Horsman Pairs Trophy – I Cooper & C Davison (see Photo Gallery)
• President’s Cup – I Wakefield & P Dack (see Photo Gallery)
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park (see Photo Gallery)
• Handford Shield – Vets (see Photo Gallery)
• 2024
• Presidents Cup – K Else & T Lord (see Photo Gallery)
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park (see Photo Gallery)
• Jack Horsman Pairs Trophy – Mrs H Lister & K Else (see Photo Gallery)
• Turnbull Cup – H Reade & N Phillip (see Photo Gallery)
• Handford Shield – Marple Ladies
• 2023
• Jack Horsman Pairs Trophy – K Else & C Davison (see Photo Gallery)
• Ryder Cup – K Else & J Burton (see Photo Gallery)
• Presidents Cup – D Hardman & P Dack (see Photo Gallery)
• J&J Pairs – B Axon & P Townend
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Vets
• 2022
• Jack Horsman Trophy – Mrs D Holker & B Kelly (see Photo Gallery)
• Hawley-Proctor Pairs Trophy – B Kelly & P Dack (see Photo Gallery)
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Shared Vets and Marple Ladies (match drawn)
• President’s Cup – B Logan & B Smith (see Photo Gallery)
• 2021
• J&J Pairs – N Humble & H Reade (see Photo Gallery)
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park (see Photo Gallery)
• 2020
• No competitions due to Covid
• 2019
• Hawley-Proctor Pairs – D Hardman & H Reade
• Jack Horsman Trophy – Mrs E Horsman & M Powell (see Photo Gallery)
• President’s Cup – T Diffley (see Photo Gallery)
• Ryder Cup – D Sproston & P Townend
• Handforth Cup – Romiley BC
• Handford Shield – Vets
• 2018
• President’s Cup – D Hardman & D Sproston
• Ron Makin Merir – H Reade
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Vets
• 2017
• Frank Taylor Trophy – B Kelly (see Photo Gallery)
• Walker Cup – H Reade
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Vets
• 2016
• J&J Pairs – B Kelly & M Powell
• President’s Cup – K Glen
• Turnbull Cup – H Reade (see Photo Gallery)
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Vets
• 2015
• Hawley-Proctor Pairs – D Sproston & D Wright
• Ryder Cup – T Diffley
• Handforth Cup – Marple Park
• Handford Shield – Vets
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• Bowling Green History
• The Carver and Barlow families gifted most of the land, selling a small part for a nominal sum, to form Marple Memorial Park in memory of not only their own 4 sons but all Marple men who fell during the Great War of 1914-1918. It appears that the gift/sale was originally to Cheshire County Council who then transferred it to Marple Urban District Council who then passed it to Stockport MBC following the reorganisation of local government in 1974. The park was duly dedicated as a War Memorial Park at a ceremony/pageant held in July 1922 that was attended by thousands.
• Raising £165 10s 0d (£165.50) in funds by subscription, the original bowling green shelter/pavilion was erected by the ex-servicemen of Marple in memory of their fallen comrades. The shelter/pavilion was originally built on 3 sides with an open frontage supported by pillars. Both the shelter/pavilion and bowling green were officially opened in May 1923.
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• Bowling Club History
• 1950’s
• The Club was formed in 1950 when 8 local bowlers got together, each paying £0 2s 0d (£0.10), to set up the Club. There was a slow response with the Club having insufficient members to play competitive matches, teams then comprising 10-a-side. There was a proposal to wind up the Club in 1953/54 but this was defeated.
• In 1958 the Club applied to join the Stockport & District Parks Bowling League which then comprised just one Division. The Club had 15 members, 11 of whom were registered to play. This raises the question as to which Club were League Champions in 1957 as shown on the photograph hanging in the Club pavilion. The Honours Boards in the pavilion also show reference to both Marple Memorial Park Bowling Club and Marple Memorial Park Veterans Bowling Club. The oldest Honours roll call hanging in the pavilion shows winners of the Hibbert Cup from 1923 to 1991.
• Joining the Parks Bowling League led to an increase in membership to 24 the following season.
• In the first few seasons matches were played against a lot of teams still playing in the League but some have fallen by the wayside – Gorsey Bank from Cheadle and Wellington, who played at Heaton Chapel Community Centre. Away matches at Wellington were unpopular as their green was clover-leaf shaped.
• 1960’s
• In the early years of this decade the Club had reasonable success, regularly finishing in the top 5. The high point was finishing as runners up in 1963. Increased membership was attracted by trips and matches in New Brighton, Fleetwood, Hollinshead Vets in Sheffield, Langworth Park in Salford and day trips to Rhyll, Skegness and St Anne’s. The main social event, run with Marple Ladies, was a hotpot supper held in the Old Folks Home with entertainment and dancing and the max capacity of 70 was easily achieved.
• 1970’s
• This decade saw a decline in results with the Club just avoiding relegation for a few seasons to the newly formed Division 2. Relegation finally arrived at the end of the 1977 season, but support for the Club remained high with 35 members, 21 of whom were registered League players.
• In 1978 the League rejected the Club’s proposal to increase team numbers from 10 to 12 players. Annual membership cost £0.50 for playing members and £0.30 for social members. Officers of the Club now received an honorarium of £5 and the organisation of the Club included an Assistant Secretary, a Selection Committee and a Handicap Committee.
• A sore point with members was the “greenage” fee charged by SMBC. This had been £0 0s 4d (less than £0.02) before decimalisation in 1971 but had risen to £0.10 per game by 1978 with SMBC rejecting calls from clubs for a Season Ticket.
• At the end of this decade the Club had a bank balance of £127.
• 1980’s
• In 1980 the Club wrote to SMBC asking them to provide a second bowling green. This request was repeated regularly as the Club’s membership remained high – possibly linked to the steady decline in private bowling greens. In 1988 SMBC finally rejected the repeated requests stating that “funds have been allocated to more urgent needs”.
• SMBC introduced Season Tickets in 1981 but Club players objected to the £5 charge quoting Manchester City Council’s charge to its clubs of £2 and Tameside MBC’s provision of free Season Tickets. SMBC’s Season Ticket only covered play from Monday to Friday between 11am and 5pm.
• The Club’s stay in Division 2 from 1978 did bring improved results for a time, the Club finishing between 3rd and 6th. The Selection Committee was asked at the 1980 AGM to select the strongest possible team as “otherwise MPVBC will never win anything”. After finishing 8th of 12 teams at the end of the 1982 season and fearing relegation to Division 3, which had been formed in 1980, very objective selection criteria were set. The Selection Committee were to look at players last games and select only players who had either a) scored a min of 25 points in home and away games, or b) scored 30 points in consecutive home games, or c) scored a min of 20 points in consecutive away games, or d) had not lost 3 consecutive home games. This had some impact on the Club’s improved positioning in the mid-Eighties, finishing 3rd in the 1986 season and winning 19 of its 22 matches in the 1987 season to gain promotion back to Division 1.
• This decade also saw a number of other changes. In 1983 the age for League players was lowered to 63 from 65 with the Club allowing social members to join from age 60. In 1984 metric lengths replaced imperial lengths. In 1986 a chalkboard was purchased and was suitably inscribed to record home match scores and this was still in use at the end of the 2021 season.
• 1990
• Raffle tickets for home matches were replaced with football cards and these still provide a small regular income 30 years later.
• The Oldknow 200 Festival was held and the Club was invited to organise a competition as part of this event. Over 3 consecutive Sundays, 6 teams competed, MPVBC, Marple, Marple Ladies, Romiley A and B and Spring Gardens with MPVBC beating Marple in the final.
• Throughout the Club’s first 40 years, members enjoyed playing in internal Cup matches – Brighouse Cup, Frank Taylor Cup, Ryder Cup, Turnbull Cup, Ron Makin Cup – all regularly getting 16 to 20 entries, and the Cecil Walker Cup, which was open to Marple Ladies, attracting up to 36 entries. These Club competitions were handicapped and every AGM included discussions on the handicaps, with recommendations as to improvements, followed by an appeal for members to willingly accept the Handicap Committee’s decisions.
• Social friendly matches were also played against teams from Macclesfield Probus Group, Poynton and Stockport Sunday School. The longest running competition has been against Romiley BC with the Handforth Cup being awarded to the winners from 1978 onwards. The AGM minutes always referred to this as the Handford Trophy and the Honours Board also shows Handford, so maybe the trophy engraver got it wrong.
• When J Handford, a former Club President, passed away in 1986 his will included a gift of £200 to the Club to be invested in National Savings and from which £7 was to be paid to the winners, £3 to the losers and £2 to be used for refreshments. This money is still invested in 2022 but does not receive any interest and the payment of prize money has ceased.
• Another social competition was against Marple Ladies for the Handford Bowling Trophy which has been awarded since 1977. Marple Ladies were victorious in 6 of the first 9 years with MPVBC only gaining the upper hand from the late 1980’s.
• So we leave the first 40 years in 1990, with MPVBC on a high, financially secure with a bank balance of £254 and National Savings of £277, with 19 registered League bowlers playing well in the League and winning both the Handforth Cup and the Handford Trophy.
• Many thanks to Mike Powell our Club Treasurer for his research through the papers covering the years to 1990.
• 1990’s – Continuation
• The start of this decade saw it become compulsory for those playing competitive bowls to be members of the BCGBA. The initial cost of life membership was £1.20. As at 2022 life membership costs £12.
• The first of many requests to SMBC to fence off the bowling green following damage to both the green and the pavilion was made in 1992.
• The Club entered a team in the Cheadle & Gatley League for the 1993 season.
• Unfortunately the minutes of Club meetings following the pre-season meeting in 1993 through to the 1999 AGM are missing. What can however be gleaned from the League website archives is that by the 1997 season we had 2 teams competing in the C&G League that then comprised 52 teams across 5 Divisions.
• 2000’s
• The 2000 season saw the introduction of the maximum mark length of 40 metres.
• The 2003 AGM congratulated Howard Reade on being selected for the Cheshire County team.
• SMBC were approached for a concessionary car parking charge for bowlers on match days but this was refused.
• The 2007 season saw the introduction of the style of bowling permit that we still have in 2022. Players who applied through their club were given a discounted rate compared to those who bought directly from SMBC. There was a significant saving to members from the scrapping of the previous Gold and Silver card scheme. SMBC discontinued giving a discount in the late 2010’s.
• The 2009 season also saw the admission of a second team in the Parks League.
• At the end of the 2009 season the C&G League comprised 67 teams across 6 Divisions with the Club having 23 registered players but there are no comparable League website archive records for the Parks League.
• The C&G A team spent most of this decade mid-table in Division 1 with the C&G B team mainly in the bottom Division. The Parks 1 team started in Division B but regular promotions/relegations found them in Division A at the end of the decade.
• At the close of this decade the Club’s finances were healthy with £400 in the Bank and £498 in the Handforth Trust Fund.
• 2010’s
• The 2010 season saw the Club enter a team in the S&D Pairs League becoming Division D champions in the first year, runners up in Division C in their second year then yo-yo-ing for a few seasons finally ending the decade in the top half of Division C. At the start of this decade the Pairs League had comprised 42 teams in 4 Divisions.
• With the Club now having to fulfil fixtures for 5 teams there was a dramatic cutback in the number of Club competitions that could be run during the season. It also appears that around this time, or possibly slightly before, the Club Competition Handicapping Committee ceased to exist.
• The Club also received a number of fines in the 2010 season for playing unregistered players. It was decided that all playing members should be registered with the Leagues but not social bowlers as this would mean them having to purchase life membership of the BCGBA.
• 2012 saw the first Club website, set up and run by Cliff Ranson, to display team selections and results to save out of town members having to come to the green to view the notice board.
• The first half of the decade also saw the steps down to the green from the original pavilion, which can be seen in some of the old photographs on this website, being removed due to their dangerous condition and the area grassed over.
• In 2017 the green was finally fenced off following further significant damage to the green by footballers, golfers and cyclists – it only took 25 years from the initial request! The 2 benches which were at green level had to be re-sited and Marple Ladies and the Club each bought a replacement with appropriate memorial plaques. The Club used funds from the Handforth Trust with a view to replenishing that Fund as and when finances permitted.
• The 2018 season saw the admission of lady players to C&G League teams.
• The C&G A team spent most of the first half of this decade mid-table in Division 3 but 2 quick promotions took them up to Division 1 followed by immediate relegation then promotion back to Division 1.
• The C&G B team were promoted mid-decade to Division 5 and 2 years later to Division 4 but this wasn’t sustained and they ended the decade in the bottom Division.
• The Parks 1 team mainly stayed mid-table in Division A throughout the decade but in 2018 were relegated but bounced back immediately in 2019.
• The Parks 2 team spent most of the decade in Division C but ended up relegated to Division D
• At the end of the 2019 season the Pairs League comprised 47 teams across 4 Divisions, the C&G League comprised 57 teams across 6 Divisions and the Parks League comprised 35 teams across 4 Divisions.
• At the close of this decade the Club’s finances remained healthy with £974 in the Bank and £273 in the Handforth Trust and with 34 registered players.
• 2020’s
• 2020 saw the current website built and ready to go in time for the start of this season, Cliff Ranson being unable to continue running the previous website or to simply transfer admin functions to Gordon Watson.
• This decade starts with the Covid-19 pandemic which prevented any competitive bowling in 2020, although from mid-season some restricted social bowling was permitted. The 2021 season was also curtailed to an extent by Government restrictions but at least some competitive bowling was allowed albeit with no promotion or relegation at stake. The immediate impact of the pandemic was the loss of 4 teams in the Pairs League, 7 teams in the C&G League and 2 teams in the Parks League.
• The 2022 season saw the admission of lady players to the Parks League teams.
• Further entries for this decade will be made after the end of each season
• If anyone has any old photographs, other papers relating to MPVBC or can recall events told to them by parents or grandparents please get in touch with Gordon Watson
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• Memory Lane
• The following 3 photographs are reproduced courtesy of the Marple Website Virtual History Tour – https://visitmarple.co.uk. Thanks to Mark Whittaker (Marple Website) – https://www.marple.website and Hilary Atkinson (Marple Local History Society) – https://marplelocalhistorysociety.org.uk.
• Photo #1 is thought to have been taken in the 1940’s.
• Photo #2 The original photo is hung up in the pavilion and is annotated “League Champions 1957”.
• Photo #3 was taken in 1963/1964. This was a match between Marple Councillors and Marple Memorial Park Bowling Club. Captaining Marple Councillors was council chairman J H Grimshaw (wearing chain of office). Other council players were Councillor Shaw and Clerk to the Council – L Greenhall. The bowling club was captained by I Wright (vice-president) and the only other member named was H Bennett. The bowling club won the match 167 – 143.

• The two photographs below show the display attached to the original bowling green shelter/pavilion to celebrate the centenary in 2022 of the opening of the park. The display was funded by the Friends of Marple Memorial Park to whom we are grateful – https://www.marplememorialpark.org.uk

• Wednesday Evening Team
• Our President, Barry Logan, has handed over records, correspondence etc for the Wednesday Evening League Team who played their matches on our green from the early 1960’s to 2009. This team was run as a stand alone “club” with its own bank account etc and holding its own AGM at the Albert Schools and having an annual dinner dance.
• The team originally played in the North Derbyshire League until 1975 before joining the Stockport Parks League. In the latter league the team regularly fluctuated between the bottom of the “A” Division and the top of the “B” Division (there were 5 divisions in the league).
• There were up to 7 internal competitions each year plus away days at e.g. The Golden Pheasant in Plumley with Spring Gardens in Marple Bridge the regular venue in the 2000’s.
• For further information please contact Mike Powell who went through all of the paperwork handed over and who very kindly supplied this brief summary.

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• Website contacts:
• Gordon Watson
• gordonawatson@btinternet.com
• +44(0)161 427 6355
• +44(0)7749 013163
• and/or
• Nigel Humble
• nhumble@msn.com
• +44(0)7713 505596
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