SUMMER SKITTLES 2008 - A BRIEF LOOK AT THE HISTORY
Written by Bob Scott

• Chairman - Bob Scott
• Treasurer - Della Scott
• Fixture Secretary - Gerald Holbrow
• Committee Member - Kim Ward

The Summer Skittle league was established approximately 40 years ago, and although we have no definite evidence of the start date, research suggests the alley was built in 1961.

The league started with just a few teams playing each other, indeed, some of those players are still playing today ! Such people include, Bet Silcox, Joan Cole, and Floss Scott.

The original alley had a red settee located in front of a coal-fired stove which provided the heating. As time marched on, during the 80`s, a new alley was laid on top of the old one.

In 1999, a major refurbishment of the alley took place and was renamed `The Millennium Room`. In 2003, major defaults were found in the ceiling structure and it was deemed not cost effective to invest in a structure which had served a useful purpose in the past, but was really quite inadequate for modern day needs. So the whole building was demolished and the current `MANOR SUITE` erected.

The room now plays host to ten x 12 a side winter league teams and 18 x 6 a side summer league teams. Also, on Sunday lunchtimes, the alley is used for a very popular 4 corners league.

Every year there is a presentation night for the summer league, usually in October. This used to be held in The Main Hall, but the event became so popular that for several years it was held at the Bedminster Down Ex Service Club where attendance’s of 250 were commonplace. It eventually returned to The Main Hall and more recently into The Manor Suite - exactly where the trophies are played for.

The large cups we still play for were donated by builder Mickey Joyce, a former President of the club who was responsible for much building work in the 1970`s.

Apart from the names of the committee above,(myself and Della have been running it for 25 years) former committee members include Dennis Payne and Maurice Mills.