FROM THE PEN OF FOUNDER MEMBER AND CLUB CAPTAIN JAMES PARSLEY
Sele Farm Bowls Club was founded in 1967 by members of Sele Farm housing association of which several founder members played bowls in the local factory league. The main organiser was Allan Campbell who played for London Country Buses. The club used to play on a three-rink green by the Hartham Common park entrance – and there was only one toilet for everyone. After the game we used to drive to Sele Farm Community Hall for the teas. Then three years later, in 1970, a new six-rink green was built by East Herts District Council. The club erected a wooden building 12ft x 14ft for equipment and teas. The tea was brewed on a camping stove outside, and we had to use the public toilet in the park or the one back at the old green – not very convenient. After a lot of hard work by the committee, the Council eventually built toilets next to the green in1986.
NEW PAVILION: Meanwhile, the present building – the pavilion – was paid for by the Council in 1976. But our members had to dismantle it in Ware and re-build it on the present site.The size was doubled in 1996 at a cost of £20,736 with various grants and fundraising by members. Then in 2000 we erected the veranda at a cost of £7000.We were often the target of vandals but thanks to various grants, 10 years later a chain link fence was erected which made a big difference.That was in 2010 and since then we have been quite successful for a small club. We have gone on to win several trophies in the East Herts area.Our Ladies have been especially successful, for they’ve won through to the National finals at Leamington on many occasions. It took them a few years but our men eventually caught up by winning the County Fours both in 2006 and 2011.
BOMBSHELL: We had quite a bombshell at the end of 2017, for the Council informed us that they were no longer going to support us and that we would have to take on the lease and full responsibility of the green and buildings. I got bowls England to inspect our green and give us a report (which was quite damning) and our Secretary enlisted the help of Councillor Bob Deering (a solicitor) who badgered the Council into into sumission. They handed over £9,000.That enabled us to purchase some very good second hand equipment, plus we were able to install a second ladies loo.As a result things are improving all round.
SUCCESS AT LAST: It came in 2006 in the National Finals at Worthing. The celebration line-up with Herts county president Arthur Moseley is: L-R Tony Clift, Glen Wilson. Jim Parsley and Harry Wright