An Historical Overview

1995 - 2000

Amongst a program of special matches that had been arranged was an encounter with our old friends and rivals "The Midland Counties" who were also celebrating their centenary. The result of the match held at Stratford on Avon was an honourable draw, which came with the last bowl of the game.

Other special fixtures were against each of the 12 Counties that make up our catchment area, both Indoors and Out. The EBA and EIBA were also played, plus each of our surviving Founder Member clubs. President for the year was Brian Appleton of St Neots who lead teams to a Four to Two win over the Welsh Private Greens touring side.

1996 Back to normal after very successful centenary celebrations. The Centenary Committee stood down and the Promotions Committee were re-instated, with the mandate to act as a "Think Tank" planning the way into the 21st Century. During this year the "Croeso" cup was won on Welsh soil for the first time in twenty years under the leadership of President Terry Kernaghan of Bounds Green. A forty plus deficit being converted to a thirty plus win on the last day of the tour. Eric Crosbie MBE died in September. President of the London & Southern Counties in 1959. Hon Secretary for 30 years. President of the EBA in 1977, plus twice for the County of Middlesex, the list of mourners at his funeral read like a Who's Who of Bowling.

1997 Hon Secretary John Flint of Chelmsford who had been elected as President succeeded in scoring a third win in a row over the Welsh Private Greens winning once again by Four games to two. We lost against the Midland Counties in the "Spring Cup"

1998 Chris Rew Hon Competitions Secretary since 1981 was awarded a Life Membership. He had organised every L&SCBA Final, bar one, Indoors and Out, for sixteen years. The one missed while recuperating from a serious operation in 1996, he supervised by telephone.

An Archive Store was built at "Bounds Green B.C." with the co-operation of their Board, to house the vast cache of records acquired over the past century, which until then had been stored on a pallet in a past presidents garage. The "Spring Cup" was regained from the Midland counties, however disaster in Wales for we lost the "Croeso Cup".

1999 Change of Secretary, Bernard Clarke of Leaside B.C. takes over from John Flint.

Treasurer Rodney Hillyard of Flitwick, wearing two hats becomes President and succeeds in regaining the "Croeso Cup" from the Welsh and retains the "Spring Cup" by beating the Midland Counties. Silver badge re-instated for the winner of the "Lonsdale Singles".

From 1919 until 1973 when finance became difficult, a silver badge was always awarded to the winner of this prestigious competition. Finance is improved so the time has come to reinstate that award. Preparations in hand to celebrate the new millennium include a bannerette of the quality of yesteryear, to present to our opponents during the year 2000. Special domestic matches against teams from each of our counties. Under the guidance of the Promotion Sub-Committee the Association starts preparation on an Internet Web Site.

2000 We are here! Having been dragged screaming and shouting into a new century with new technology and modern ways. What would Ernest Price and his fellow's have thought in 1900 could they have visualised how far the idea they nurtured would have reached in a mere century. Could those men of 19th century foresight, have appreciated that memories of their achievements could be zoomed across the world at the touch of a switch, carried on a mysterious almost magical system known as the Internet, on a Web Site set up by a man who bowls on the Green in the same way that they did. When one considers that many of these men would not even have electricity in their homes it would have been mind-boggling.

The London and Southern Counties Bowling Association has a fine old history and it is hoped that you will have enjoyed reading of those that helped create and maintain it through the years.