The Club
The Club was originally known as Lodge Plugs and was started in 1945 by a group of 12 employees of Lodge Plugs Ltd. who as members of the Lodge Plugs cricket club who probably thought that their cricketing days were coming to a close but still wanted an active sport and had started to play bowls just as a pastime. They hired their woods and played on local corporation bowls greens.
Lodge Plugs Ltd. was a company with some 1300 people on their books manufacturing at that time mainly sparking plugs for the commercial and aircraft industry with only a small section making industrial ceramics.
The Club played as Lodge Plugs until 1963 when it was changed to Smiths Sports and Social Club (following the purchase of Lodge Plugs Ltd. by Smiths Industries), being known now in the bowling fraternity as “Smiths Sports”. The gates at the entrance still bear the name of Lodge Plugs.
The Ground (Stanley Road)
This was purchased in 1953 previously being used for agricultural purposes, its last use prior to its purchase being a pig farm. Previous to Staney Road matches were played at Hillmorton Road Rec. now used by Thornfield B.C.
On the purchase of the grounds the first pavilion was a renovated army hut which was purchased from an Ack-Ack site at Ryton-on-Dunsmore. This served the Club until 1965 when the present pavilion was built by Smiths Industries.
Smiths Industries declared their intention to sell the ground in 1992. The sports field having planning permission whilst the Bowls Club still plays as Smiths Sports but as a private Club.
In the early days most matches were four rinks, and on the last away game of the season it was the done thing for the Captain to buy drinks all round for the support the players had given him. (It had to be an away match as we had no bar).
In 1959 Frank Gibbs was Captain and after the game at Tool and Gauge (now Highways) he slipped a few pounds to the Treasurer Chris Thompson and told him to stand close to the Secretary, Percy Merrick. Later he asked the Treasurer if he could borrow some cash from the match fees to pay for his round, Percy objected, so he had to get permission from Bill Jones (President) who was in on the joke and gave the O.K. Percy blew his top and when the coach stopped at the Half Moon at Wolston, Percy stayed on the coach refusing to drink on “borrowed money”. Months later on the morning of the A.G.M. Percy asked the Treasurer if Frank had paid the money back, Chris said he had been paying 2/6d a week and the final payment was due that week. Percy said if Frank did not pay up before the meeting he would have him thrown out of the Club. Two minutes before the meeting started Frank made sure Percy saw him hand over 2/6d to the Treasurer.
1959 was the first time we won County Honours, J Green and F Terry won the pairs, the Club won the Ivens Cup.
In 1968 a very strange thing occurred: Smiths were at home to Lillington and the visiting Captain, Archie Fulton was replying to the welcoming speech of the home Captain. He remarked on the well being of the green, the excellent tea etc. Frank Gibbs then said he would like to congratulate Smiths on winning the Ivens (CRASH) Cup. They went over to pick the picture which was broken on the floor and found it was a picture of the Winning Ivens Cup team of 1959, the only time we had won it up till 1968. If I remember correctly Arthur Corbey was given the task of mending the picture.
Thoughts of a Lodge Plugs Bowling Club originated just after the Second World. The idea originated for usual reason. Lodge Plugs in those days had a very good cricket team but alas many of the team were approaching the times when the ball doesn’t stick in the hands followed by the excuse when batting “I never saw it”.
Bowls in those days was considered the older man’s sport, a natural follow up to football and cricket and it was down this road several of the stalwarts of the cricket team decided to go.
At that time there was a public green on the Hillmorton Road Recreation ground, the site now occupied by Thornfield Bowls Club, and it was on this green Lodge Bowling Club was born.
From records it appears that British Rail also used this green for their fixtures so one would imagine what with them, together with the general public the arrangement of fixtures would have been a problem.
Luckily several minute books are still in existence dating from 1945 to 1979 and it is from these the following observations were made:
Timeline
1946
First AGM.
The first Chairman of the Lodge Bowling Club was Mr W Jones (Bill) with Don Latchem voted in as Secretary. Other founder members at that first meeting included Ray Carless, Alec Leist, Frank Tarry, H Mills, R Ratcliffe, L Burrows, H Goode, Sid Holmes, George Nixon and Sid Giles.
Subscriptions for that first season were at the exorbitant sum of one shilling (5p). Permission was also sought at that first meeting for the Company to provide a green when possible and a suitable grant for the purchase of woods.
At the next meeting although the Company were unable at that time to provide a green they did sanction a grant of £60.00 for the purchase of 16 pairs of woods.
1947
The subscriptions rose dramatically to five shillings (25p).
Two interesting points at the 1947 A.G.M.:-
1. No fixtures were to be arranged for May and no Sunday games if there was a game on the previous Saturday.
2. Skips were elected for the season. The elected skips for that year were Captain Bill Jones, Vice Captain Frank Tarry, Ray Carless and Alec Leist. In the event of a fifth rink requirement then Mr Ratcliffe would skip it. The membership at this time was 25.
1948
It was agreed that associate members be admitted to the Club and it is believed that the late Ernie Craven was the first person to be granted this type of membership.
1950
Subscriptions rose to £1.5s.0d. (£1.25p) but £1.0s.0d. would be for a season ticket from Rugby Council for use of the public green on Hillmorton Road Recreation. Affiliation to the W.C.B.A. and the R.B.A. also took place this year. In November of 1950 the first official dinner of the Club took place. This was at the George Hotel, Kilsby at a cost of nine shillings a head (45p).
September 6 1951
A Mr C Rushworth was deleted from the handicap competition for failing to reply to two dates offered by his component. The Club also participated in the Ivens Cup this year.5
October 1 1952
Frank Tarry nominated as Junior Vice President of the R.B.A
October 1953
First mention of the possibility of the Club owning their own ground and things must have happened very quickly as records show that matches were actually played at Stanley Road in 1954. Prior to its purchase by the Club, this piece of land had a history of ownership both by private owners and the railway for use as farming land and to lay a bowling green, tennis courts and a cricket pitch in twelve months seems almost unbelievable.
Round about that time an old army hut was purchased from a Ryton gun site, transferred by members to Stanley Road and converted into a excellent pavilion, replaced by a brick one in 1964.
1959
R Carless elected Chairman. The cost of the dinner rose to 11/6d (57p) and the Club won the Ivens Cup for the first time.
A.G.M 1960
The accounts showed a balance of 19/11d (99p)
1961
Bill Jones resumed as Chairman.
Lodge Plugs was purchased by Smiths Industries.
1963
The Club changed its name from Lodge Plugs Bowls Club to Smiths Sports and Social Club. This was due to the Lodge Plugs Company having been taken over by Smiths Industries.
The cost of the dinner rose to 13/6d (67p).
1964
A new brick pavilion was opened replacing the wooden one. The new pavilion was provided by Smiths Industries at no cost to the members. As a matter of interest the old wooden pavilion was purchased by Cold Ashby F.C. and remained in use until it was replaced by a brick one.
1963
Frank Tarry elected Chairman.
1968
Mid-week match fees increased to 1/6d (7p) to cover cost of refreshments. Frank Tarry, K Barden, C Catchpole and J Green reached County Fours final and the Club won the Ivens Cup again.
1970
Won the Ivens Cup again.
1971
Dinner cost rose to £1.25p and match fees rose to 25p.
1973
Associate members were accepted as officials within the section.
1975
Dinner rose to £1.50p.
Competition Secretary elected for the first time.
Match fees raised to 35p Saturdays, 15p week days.
1976
Ted Ellis resigned as Secretary after many years in this position. T Coe elected as Secretary.
Changes made to refurbish a new kitchen.
1978
Winners of Wardrop Cup and Finch Cup. T Leader elected as Chairman.
1979
Lapel badges ordered. L West elected as Chairman. Rugby Police were given use of the bowling green for week matches.
1980
G Marchant elected Secretary.
1981
R Humphries elected as Treasurer.
The ladies section was started by Sheena McKenna, first they had to learn all about bowls and then take some coaching. In order to be a full team they had to get associated members to join. With 12 members they joined the the county and became affiliated and were on their way to belonging to the Smiths Bowls Club.
1982
Mrs Jean Humphries started the weekend teas taking over from such people in the past as Mrs Ellis, Mrs Leist, Mrs Carless, Mrs Barden to name but a few.
1983
T Coe elected R.B.A. President. F Gibbs elected as Chairman.
1984
Current Club tie introduced. Previously, tie design change took place what seems every other year.
H Sutton the groundsman for many years retired. The green to be looked after by Smiths Maintenance Department in future.
It was in this year the Club resigned from the R.B.A. over a controversy regarding the playing of the R.B.A. singles final. One of the Club’s members, K Carter had reached the final only for the R.B.A. to renege on a previous commitment to the player that it would move the original date to accommodate prior commitment by K Carter on this date. After several Extra-ordinary meetings by the R.B.A. and Smiths, happily the situation was resolved and the Club took up membership again of the R.B.A.
1986
Owing to the Club’s heavy commitment the Police Club were requested to seek other facilities.
G Marchant had to stand down from Secretary owing to leaving the Company and thereby falling foul of the rule regarding officers of the Club having to be in the employment of the Company.
The green was now being maintained on a contract basis by an outside firm.
1989
Artificial grass installed in ditches.
1992
This year proved very traumatic, Smiths Industries informed the Social Club they were applying for planning permission for Stanley Road Sports Field. This meant, if successful, the Bowls Club would cease to exist. Naturally this news was received with many misgivings by the bowls members, even to the point when expressing their opinion were politely warned by the local Smiths Management as to their future with the Company. Happily and with the co-operation of all parties, i.e. Smiths Industries, London, Smiths Bowls and the Rugby Council, the situation was resolved. Smiths received planning permission and kept their word that the Bowls Club could keep their facilities at a suitable rent, operating as a private Club and being self supporting.
1993
First year as a private Club.
1994
New badges ordered for Jubilee Year.