Page 923 - Reading Mercury

sold and another club built on the bowling green. Another suggestion was that the
premises buildings should be halved—the rental from one half helping to maintain the
other as a club.
Before the resignation of the officers, it was decided that the Howard Palmer
Bowling Club should be divorced from the Wokingham Club. The bowls captain said
that he doubted whether they would be able to continue in the coming season. The
green, said a member, was in a bad condition and the work needed to make it playable
would be costly.
After Mr. Palmer had said that the bowling club could no longer be considered an
asset the decision to separate it from the parent club was taken by a majority vote, five
members voting against it.
Mr. Palmer attended the meeting both as president and landlord, and said that he
would not let rooms in the club on a seven-year lease if there was little prospect of the
club continuing. It was not reasonable, he said, to expect him to allow half of the club
premises to become derelict while the remainder was leased
There was an association between the club and his family that had lasted half-a-
century, said the president, adding that he wanted to see it continue. But he was
outspoken—“You owe £500. The club is broke, the bills have got to be paid. Where is
the money coming from?” he said, urging the members to be honest with themselves.
If members do not want a club they should say so. They could realise on their assets
and clear the liabilities—but this was a course he would do much to avoid.
Until the new committee is formed the existing officers will continue to serve.

th
Sat 26 March
BOWLS CLUB TO CONTINUE
The Howard Palmer Bowling Club will continue. This decision was taken by 30
members at a special meeting of the club, held in the Wokingham Club on Tuesday.
Recently, owing to financial difficulties and a re-organisation of the Wokingham
Club, the bowling section was separated from the parent club. Mr. C.T. May was
elected chairman of the new Howard Palmer Bowling Club, and it was agreed to ask
Mr. R.H.R. Palmer to become the president. Mr. R. Thatcher was elected secretary. A
donation by the new chairman started the club funds, and it was agreed to have three
classes of membership. Full membership will cost two guineas, and non-playing
members will pay 10s. 6d. Lady members of the club will pay one guinea.

nd
Sat 2 April
WOKINGHAM BOWLERS
Now Own More Land
After protracted negotiations the Wokingham Bowling Club now own not only their
green and the land on which the pavilion is built, but the surrounding land. This was
announced at the annual meeting held in the pavilion on Tuesday, and referring to it in
his annual report the secretary, Mr. E.C. Plumridge, said “This ensures our existence
for a very long time.”
The progress of the club during the past year had been “most satisfactory,” said the
secretary. Membership had remained stable, and there were now 49 full members, 18
country members, 6 life members and 2 social members.
Despite the long journey, the Whitsun tour was a success, and Mr. Plumridge hoped
for an equally successful trip to Worthing in the coming season. The fixture list for
1960 had been arranged with the emphasis on Sunday matches.

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