In the beginning
The Hawksbury bowling green was laid in 1954 and for many years administered as part of the Hawkesbury Community Centre as a public green.
During the late 1960's the "Hawkesbury Crown Green Bowling Club" was formed . The founding committee consisted of Mr Ken Jones ( President) , Mr Latham Catherall ( Chairman) , Mr Ces. Hewitt (Vice Chairman), Mr Charles Mole ( Treasurer), Mr Raymond Bellis ( Secretary).
The members competed for two trophies , The Jack Kelly Cup and the Joe Louis Cup . Little did the founders realise what they had started and how quickly the club would grow .
The expansion came with entry into the local league, membership increased and so did the number of matches.
Hawkesbury joined the Deeside League in 1971 and a delve by Hawkeye into the Chester Chronicle Newspaper for 1971 at the County Records Office in Hawarden revealed the following information >>
Hawkesbury's first league game versus Sealand May 1971
S Crofts 21 J Lockett 14 , L Whitley 20 J Hawkes 21 , A Colegate 21 J Fellows 9, N Bellis 21 Les Evans 14, T Hughes 13 W Witham 21 , W Hopwood 19 W Waklin 21, D Jones 15 A Gravatt 21, C Jackson 21 K Boden 17, G Hopwood 13 R Green 21, G Whalley 21 CJ Guest 18,
Hawkesbury 185 ( 7 ) Sealand 177 ( 5 ).
For many years the pavilion was a wooden structure followed by a temporary wooden cabin.
2000 New Pavilion , 2004 New Canopy
It was in the late 1990's aided with a grant from AD Waste in conjunction with Flintshire Community Trust, also with the help from Flintshire County Council that the new pavilion was opened in early 2000. The Hawkesbury bowlers are extremely proud of the new building.
On the 16th September 2003 a grant
application was submitted to the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council for
funding in respect of a Canopy over the front of the Pavilion, the cost
being £2406.The Canopy was installed on the 23rd
January 2004 and the club Chairman and Committee wish to thank Karen
Zeisler ( Funding Advice Officer) ,Flintshire Local Voluntary Council
for all her help in obtaining the finance ,enabling the completion of
the project.The Canopy was supplied and fitted by
Canopies UK Ltd. ,Darwin,Lancashire.
At a committee meeting held on 29th June 2003 it was decided as a priority to extend the green by approx 7 metres. Flintshire County Council ( owners of the green ) were approached to obtain planning permission.
As no planning permission was required 3 estimates were obtained from ; 1. A.L.S. - Telford. 2. Jones Bros. - Ruthin 3 N.W.Crown - Conway.
The lowest estimate ( A.L.S.) was accepted by Flintshire County Council and Mr Mike Hornby took on the contract on our behalf.
Applications for grants to enhance the project were applied for.. from :-
1. The Flintshire Community Trust / A & D Waste Ltd. ( Consultant Mr David Munro ).
2. Buckley Town Council ( Mr Dewi Salisbury, Town Clerk ).
3. British Crown Green Bowling Association. ( Mr Alan Whitworth Financial Officer).
Hawkesbury Bowling Club also submitted their own financial contribution.
All our grant applications were successful and the Chairman and Committee of Hawkesbury Bowling Club wish to extend their thanks to the above organisations for their help in allowing the project to proceed.
The extension was started on the 20th November 2003 and due to unforseen circumstances ( including poor weather ) was not completed until 2nd March 2004.
2006 War Memorial Enhancement
March 2006 . Funded by a grant the old wire mesh railings and outside path were removed.
New perimeter railings allowed the War Memorial to be incorporated within the bowling green area.
The conifer hedge was also extended.
2008 Floodlights
With the co-operation of the Flintshire County Council Development Fund floodlights were erected during Spring 2008 and officially "switched on" by the Mayor of Buckley Councillor John Thornton on 14th September 2008 during the annual match between Hawkesbury and the Buckley Town Councillors
2008/2009 Weather Shelters and Perimeter Boarding.
During the close season and ready for the 2009 season Hawkesbury members approved ( at their own expense) the erection of three weather shelters and also renewed the perimeter wooden boards and then covered them with white fascia coverboard.
The shelters were constructed and erected by Poplars Forge, Pinfold Estate, Buckley.
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