Officers
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President
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M. Lawson
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Vice-President
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Mrs. D. Crowhurst
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Chairman
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S. Muir
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Secretary
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E. Blows (01375)
373336
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Treasurer
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D. Wakefield
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Match Secretary
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P. Madgewick
(01375) 401021
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Captain
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A. O’Neill
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Vice-Captain
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B. Gardner
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Competition Sec.
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S. Madgewick
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Ladies Secretary
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Mrs. A Henry
(01375) 380370
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Delegate
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E. Blows
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Ladies Match Sec.
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Mrs. J. Hurdle
(01375) 845976
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Ladies Captain
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Mrs. V. Boylan
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ECWBA Delegate
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Mrs. I. Rawlins
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Top
Drums Bowls Club was formed in
1934 as part of the social section of T.A. Drummeries, manufacturers of
steel drums, and even survived when the parent company were bought out by a
competitor.
The Club shared the Grays
Co-Op green in Argent Street, Grays, until the late ‘60s, when the Co-Op
green was closed following the Grays society’s absorption into the London
CS. Thurrock Council granted the Club use of the green at Blackshots, where
they remain today.
At this time the club played
in the Thurrock & District League, with little success apart from two
seasons in the early ‘70s when successive promotions saw them in the top
division. Alas, another two season later saw them back from whence they
came.
Around 1975, with numbers
falling, Drums formed a relationship with another local club, London
Transport (Grays Garage), to help each other fulfil their fixtures. It was
this association that kept Drums Bowls Club alive.
The Club had the use of a
wooden hut, which it shared with Thurrock B.C., but on 23rd
November 1981 it was burned to the ground, and all the Club’s possessions
were lost. The Council built a brick building to replace it in 1983.
The Club were now gradually
attracting new members, and, after many years at the helm, Dick Low stood
down from his positions as Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer to make way
for a new committee, which were elected at the 1989 A.G.M.
With the growing membership
the premises at Blackshots was no longer large enough to entertain visiting
teams. Permission was sought to build an extension to the clubhouse at the
Club’s own expense, which the Council agreed to as long as anyone could use
the facilities. The Club couldn’t agree to this, but in 1992, after further
discussion, the Club was given a lease on the site.
A building committee was
formed, and a loan secured from the bank, and work started in September
1992. Many members donated materials to keep down costs, and much fund
raising was undertaken.
The clubhouse was completed on
28th April 1993, in time for the new season. The official
opening, by the Mayor of Thurrock, was arranged for May 15th,
but at 6 a.m. on May 13th the Chairman received a phone call
from the police to say a small fire had been reported at the clubhouse.
When he arrived at Blackshots the building had been completely gutted by
fire.
The members refused to be
beaten, and immediately set about rebuilding the clubhouse. Many local
clubs gave assistance, financially or materially, and the Club will always
be endebted to them.
Since then the Club has gone
from strength to strength, and in 2001 they once again made it back to the
top division of the Thurrock & District League, finishing a creditable
third place, just four points behind the champions.
2002 saw the Men’s A team
finish runners-up in the Premier Division, and win the League Knockout Cup.
The B team, not to be outdone, topped Division Three of the League. The
Ladies’ A team won promotion to TALBA’s top flight for the first time, and
the B team won the Knockout Triples.
Top
King George V Playing Fields is situated in Blackshots Lane, Little
Thurrock, Grays. From the M25 (North , South and West)– Exit at
J30/31 (A13E) signposted Tilbury. Move over into the middle lane to avoid
Lakeside exit. Take next exit (signposted A1012 Grays) after about 2 miles.
Take 4th exit off roundabout towards Grays. At next roundabout
(Treacle Mine) take 2nd exit (signposted A1306 Chadwell St
Mary). Continue for about a mile to next roundabout (Daneholes). Blackshots
is on your left. Take 1st exit at the roundabout into Blackshots
Lane. The entrance to the car park is on the right, about 100 yards around
the bend. From the A128 (Brentwood) - Join the A1013 off the
A128 at the Orsett Cock roundabout. Take the 4th exit
(signposted A1013 Grays). Continue for about 3 miles until you came to a
roundabout (Daneholes). Blackshots is on your right. Take the 4th
exit into Blackshots Lane. The
entrance to the car park is on the right, about 100 yards around the bend. From
the A13 (Southend) – You may prefer to use the A127/A128 route, but if
you come along the A13 corridor exit the A13 at it’s junction with the A128
(Orsett Cock). Take the 3rd exit off the roundabout and continue
for about 3 miles until you came to a roundabout (Daneholes). Blackshots is
on your right. Take the 4th exit into Blackshots Lane. The entrance to the car park is on the
right, about 100 yards around the bend.
For a map of the local area, click on the links below.
Local Area Map
Wider Area Map
Top
