Friday’s Horowhenua Chronicle had a full page about the new artificial green replacement that the RSA Bowling Club now has – well worth reading, not just for how it was installed but there is also a section about how the original green was formed in 1947 on land donated by Mrs Lett. We wish the club well and it will be interesting to see how the new surface performs.
It was pure chance that I was given a copy this week of the Chronicle published Thurs Oct 4 1962 in which bowling clubs were advertising the new season.
The RSA had 95 members and a new concrete block implement and soil shed had been built to replace the old one.
Central Levin had a membership of 103 and the greens were said to be looking very well and the new green was describes as “perfect.”
The Levin Ladies membership was between 80-90 and with a picturesque green bordering the municipal gardens, would open their new season on Thursday 11th October. It also mentioned that it was proposed that season to make and addition to one of the buildings to allow for a kitchenette.
Our LEVIN CLUB item read as follows:
The Levin Bowling Club was a hive of activity on Tuesday. Older members were inside playing indoor bowls! On Saturday they will be putting that behind them and moving out to greens which are in fine condition for play and a credit to green superintendent, Mr A J Meads.
1.45 is put down for opening and the mayor, Mr Wise, will be present to be welcomed by president Mr A L Edwards. Patron, Mr W Bull, will officially declare the season open. In the rinks to follow, members will be interested to see how the new green goes. It was played on in the latter stages of the last season, but this will be the first full season on this additional green. Membership of the club is 152. There are 12 new members this season.
(The reference to the new green is what is now our cotula green.)
Interesting to note the number of members clubs had back in 1962; in this years Kapiti Coast Bowling Centre’s handbook, membership’s are listed as follows: Central Levin-92, Levin-93, RSA-66, Levin Women’s-25
The towns population has grown, the bowling membership has decreased. Perhaps worth discussing why over a drink!
A photo showing work on Green 2
My father Herbie on the left, Howard Harvey on the right