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Club History

The history of Glenfield Bowling Club begins in the 1940's.  The Parish Council had acquired some land for playing fields before the war from three sisters.  The Ellis sisters decided that they would like an enduring memorial of the Ellis family, which had been connected with Glenfield for well over a century.

They offered £2,000 for laying out the playing fields and were insistent that the scheme must include a bowling green and two hard tennis courts.  However, it was found that this would cost no less that £4,000.  Miss H M Ellis and Mrs Miles-Walker at once advanced their offer to £4,400 and the third sister, Mrs Rouse promised £300 for another three acres or so to square off the site.

The Ladies appointed three trustees to administer the £4,700.  These being Mr E F Penn, Mr Frank Tarratt and Mrs Neal.  When Mrs Neal passed away, she was replaced by Mr Colin Smith.  The trust has now been wound up, but it is understood that the maintenance of Ellis Park and all that it comprises is the responsibility of the Parish Council in perpetuity.  There is a tradition that the donors desired that there be no privet hedges and no alcoholic liquor introduced into the Park.  Before completion of the Bowling Green a meeting was held on the 18th February 1949 and it was decided to form a Club.  A Committee was formed and met a week later under the Chairmanship of Mr L C Jayes.  The name proposed by Mr E F Penn for the Club was the Glenfield Bowling Club, this was adopted February 1949.

Mr Mathewman was the first Secretary and Treasurer.  The Committee consisted of Miss G Marshall, Mrs M G Pall, Messrs, E F Penn, F Adamson and D Rayner.  The green was not judged fit for play in 1949.

In 1950 there was no fence enclosing the green and a pavilion was a dream of the future.   The green was used for the first time on 29th April 1950 for practice only. 

The official opening was on the 13th May 1950 when Miss Ellis and Mrs Miles-Walker travelled from London to declare the green open.  Miss Ellis sending down the first wood and Mrs Miles-Walker the second wood.

The first match on the green was on 24th June 1950, when the first visitors were the Airbourne BC of Anstey.  Glenfield won by 3 shots.

The Ladies Club was formed in July 1951.

In 1951 the committee set about procuring a club badge, which at first simply bore the letters GBC.  It was not until later that the Glenfield Tunnel Badge was designed.  This was thought by some to be rather appropriate inasmuch as one of the Ellis Family was the pioneer of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, of which the Glenfield Tunnel forms a part.

Sadly, Miss Ellis, with whom this record begins, passed away 1964.  She and her sisters have left behind a lasting memorial with regard to Glenfield Bowling Club.