An Historical Overview

1988 - 1994

1989 PP Alan Alvey volunteered to research the records and prepare a brochure on the History of the London and Southern Counties B.A. A mammoth task for one man, given the wealth of information available from a 94-year history. The storage of association records had been blessed by the continuity in office of its secretaries. Only five had held office since 1910 with two Sammy Walpole and Eric Crosbie covering 60 years between them.

1990 with the guidance of assistant secretary Keith Fox, a think tank was set up, with the task of modernising the Constitution combining Outdoor and Indoor administrations into one, thus preparing the Association for its second hundred years.

1991 Under Promotion Committee influence a new tie and blazer badge was introduced representing one Association. Indoor Division's Tie and Badge were discontinued and the new Constitution drafted. Radical changes naturally met with opposition from senior members, even resulting in the enforced resignation of a respected Past President.

1992 After many, many hours of extensive discussion and countless amendments the new Constitution was finally accepted in principle by the Executive Committee and put to a special General Meeting of the Association for ratification. On October 17th 1992 it was voted on and accepted unanimously to commence at the beginning of the 1993 Outdoor Season. Allowing the London Southern Counties B.A. to approach its Centenary as not only the longest continuous serving bowling association, but the only one to play bowls for 52 weeks of the year.

1993 Having established a new constitution, the President of the year Charles Smith very wisely refused to allow discussion on any aspect of it during his term of office. After 30 years, Eric Crosbie retired as Hon Secretary at the February A.G.M. He was appointed as joint Patron of the Association with the Earl of Lonsdale.