THE STORY SO FAR.........
Camp Hill Bowls Club was first founded in 1937 as a Prison
Officers bowling club. Parkhurst Prison already had a bowling
club which had been formed in the early 1920's, their club was
called Rookwood Bowling Club. In 1944, Camp Hill merged
with Rookwood and the Camp Hill green was left inactive.
As the two clubs were so closely involved, this brief history will
cover the activities of both clubs.
The Isle of Wight County Bowling Asociation was founded in
1921 and Rookwood joined the Association in 1935, however
in1927 H Pullen and F Wheeler of Rookwood came runners-up
in the County Pairs.
In their first sortie into league bowls, Rookwood came sixth out
of the seven teams in the second division.
Camp Hill joined the league on their formation in 1937 and in
their first year came bottom of the second division.
We have no records from then until 1953, when Camp Hill
won the second division and were promoted, on the back of this
success, they formed a second team which was entered into the
third division, which they won at their first attempt.
Again we run out of records until 1972, when once again they
came bottom of the second division. At the end of this season,
Camp Hill Bowls Club folded.
Rookwood continued playing; winning the second division
in1985 and playing in the first division for two years befire
being relegated back to the second division.
In 1993, Rookwood Bowling Club was disbanded. Bob Rudd
the club secretary of seven years standing and several other
keen members, joined forces to resurrect Camp Hill Bowling
Club, which reformed and rejoined the Isle of Wight CBA
leagues in 1994. Bob Rudd having served his time as secretary,
handed the role over to Terry Stack, who continiues to be
secretary today. Bob Rudd is still a keen playing member and
trustee of the club.
Over the last ten years, Camp Hill has had a chequered playing
history; winning the third division, winning the second
division, playing in the first division for two years, and winning
the afternoon league on no less than five occasions.
The club membership has also fluctuated from one team to four
teams. Currently, they are running three teams, in the second
and third divisions and in the afternoon league.
The Prison Governor was always President of the club; this
protocol changed in 1998, when Fred Hussey, a long stanfding
member of the club was appointed as the first proper bowler to
be President of the club.
In 1999, the Isle of Wight Civil Service B A was formed and
was given permission to make Camp Hill it's headquarters.
They now play some five or six games on the green each season.
2005 has started a new phase for the club; Westland Bowling
Club, having lost their green, due to the company closing their
Sports & Leisure Club and sports ground, will be sharing the
green and facilities with Camp Hill. We hope that this will be a
positive move, but only time will tell!
Well that is a brief account of the bowling story at Camp Hill, if
anyone has any information that will fill in some of the gaps, I
would be very pleased to hear from them.
Officers bowling club. Parkhurst Prison already had a bowling
club which had been formed in the early 1920's, their club was
called Rookwood Bowling Club. In 1944, Camp Hill merged
with Rookwood and the Camp Hill green was left inactive.
As the two clubs were so closely involved, this brief history will
cover the activities of both clubs.
The Isle of Wight County Bowling Asociation was founded in
1921 and Rookwood joined the Association in 1935, however
in1927 H Pullen and F Wheeler of Rookwood came runners-up
in the County Pairs.
In their first sortie into league bowls, Rookwood came sixth out
of the seven teams in the second division.
Camp Hill joined the league on their formation in 1937 and in
their first year came bottom of the second division.
We have no records from then until 1953, when Camp Hill
won the second division and were promoted, on the back of this
success, they formed a second team which was entered into the
third division, which they won at their first attempt.
Again we run out of records until 1972, when once again they
came bottom of the second division. At the end of this season,
Camp Hill Bowls Club folded.
Rookwood continued playing; winning the second division
in1985 and playing in the first division for two years befire
being relegated back to the second division.
In 1993, Rookwood Bowling Club was disbanded. Bob Rudd
the club secretary of seven years standing and several other
keen members, joined forces to resurrect Camp Hill Bowling
Club, which reformed and rejoined the Isle of Wight CBA
leagues in 1994. Bob Rudd having served his time as secretary,
handed the role over to Terry Stack, who continiues to be
secretary today. Bob Rudd is still a keen playing member and
trustee of the club.
Over the last ten years, Camp Hill has had a chequered playing
history; winning the third division, winning the second
division, playing in the first division for two years, and winning
the afternoon league on no less than five occasions.
The club membership has also fluctuated from one team to four
teams. Currently, they are running three teams, in the second
and third divisions and in the afternoon league.
The Prison Governor was always President of the club; this
protocol changed in 1998, when Fred Hussey, a long stanfding
member of the club was appointed as the first proper bowler to
be President of the club.
In 1999, the Isle of Wight Civil Service B A was formed and
was given permission to make Camp Hill it's headquarters.
They now play some five or six games on the green each season.
2005 has started a new phase for the club; Westland Bowling
Club, having lost their green, due to the company closing their
Sports & Leisure Club and sports ground, will be sharing the
green and facilities with Camp Hill. We hope that this will be a
positive move, but only time will tell!
Well that is a brief account of the bowling story at Camp Hill, if
anyone has any information that will fill in some of the gaps, I
would be very pleased to hear from them.
