Chelsea Pensioners help Haywards Heath bowlers celebrate special anniversary

By Neville Dalton

Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst Bowls Club marked our 70th anniversary with a visit from the iconic Chelsea Pensioners – and now we are setting our sights on recruiting the next generation to ensure another 70 years.

More than a dozen members of the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s own bowls club visited Beech Hurst Gardens for our most prestigious friendly of the season.

The ex-servicemen marched from the car park to the clubhouse, resplendent in their traditional scarlet tunics, to the sounds of a lone piper – one of their number – before meeting chairman John Milsom, captain Jill Saunders and a number of dignitaries, including town mayor Stephanie Inglesfield, representatives of funeral directors and club sponsor P&S Gallagher, and Glendale Countryside, which looks after the green on behalf of Mid Sussex District Council.

The Pensioners, who visit a select band of clubs in the South East during the season, were treated to food and drink before the match (won by Haywards Heath) and a meal (and more drinks) afterwards.

Pensioners’ captain Mike Simmonds said their team restricted potential away fixtures to those within two-and-a-half hours’ drive, usually celebrating a significant milestone anniversary. Yet the waiting list is such that they are booked up into 2027.

Haywards Heath & Beech Hurst Bowls Club – initially two separate clubs – moved into a shared clubhouse at the gardens in 1954 and have since merged to become one.

We currently boast – aptly – around 70 playing members, with a thriving social membership, too.

But with the sport vying with more high-profile activities for participants, the club are fully aware of the need to recruit new members to stay alive.

Scores of Clubs around the UK have folded or merged in recent years, and many more are expected to fall by the wayside.

However, supported by initiatives from governing body Bowls England, a new generation of younger bowler is being attracted to the game – and Haywards Heath are determined to lure our share of newcomers to the sport.

Chairman Mr Milsom said: “As the people around the green watching today will have seen, bowls is an enjoyable way to spend some time. It’s healthy outdoors activity and we have a very good social side, with a bar and events all year round.

“We are fortunate to have a number of sponsors, including P&S Gallagher, who have covered all the costs of the visit from the Chelsea Pensioners.”

The event marked a busy period for our club, with the annual Millennium Cup tournament just a week later, on August 22, the Nicholas Soames Trophy semi-final on August 24 and our competition weekend on August 31 and September 1.

Anyone interested in joining or finding out more, can contact Mr Milsom on 01444 882223 or honorary secretary Jennie Evans at [email protected].