R A Lister & Company, producers of agricultural machinery, was founded in Dursley, Gloucestershire, England, in 1867 by Sir Robert Ashton Lister (1845–1929 .
The 'R A Lister Recreational and Social Club' was started by the Board in 1926, to provide facilities for indoor and outdoor sports for it's workers. It was run as a limited company, and to be allowed membership, an employee was required to hold a minimum of one five shilling share .
Inside a year, 95% of Lister employees had joined the Club, paying a subscription of a penny a week plus small fees for additional activities. In addition to the excellent dance floor, and concert hall there was a lounge, all in the building we now know as The Chantry Centre, formerly Lister's Club in Long Street. Employees could enjoy tennis, golf, angling, rugby, soccer, cricket, miniature rifle, skittles and in March 1949 a meeting was held to discuss the forming of a bowls section.
On 4th September 1947 the Directors of R.A. Lister visited the Priory Gardens site to discuss a scheme to provide two tennis courts above the banks and ice house, and a 'Full sized bowling green'. They had already declared back in 1935, the space at the rear of Listers Club, Long Street was not large enough for bowls, so now the matter surfaced again, with a detailed costing for the work envisaged being required. En-Tout-Cas Ltd had quoted £1,120 to lay a 4 rink bowling green with other work (tree felling, demolition of shelters etc) costing £310. The Committee negotiated with the Directors of R.A. Lister & Co for a lease of the Priory Gardens to the Recreation and Social Club at £1 per annum, with three months notice on either side.
By June 1949, 14 sets of woods and 24 sets of overshoe slip covers had arrived, membership cards were available, and whilst the green was being prepared, Thornbury and Olveston clubs offered dates for matches and the use of their greens for practice. As 1950 season dawned, Listers not only had a bowling section but a green as well, and could invite visiting teams for the first time. Mr Peachey from Cam Mills came and lectured on "The Theory and practice of the Game of Bowls", competitions were organised, the green was open every evening with the Directors agreeing to it being opened on Sundays too.
The 'R A Lister Recreational and Social Club' was started by the Board in 1926, to provide facilities for indoor and outdoor sports for it's workers. It was run as a limited company, and to be allowed membership, an employee was required to hold a minimum of one five shilling share .
Inside a year, 95% of Lister employees had joined the Club, paying a subscription of a penny a week plus small fees for additional activities. In addition to the excellent dance floor, and concert hall there was a lounge, all in the building we now know as The Chantry Centre, formerly Lister's Club in Long Street. Employees could enjoy tennis, golf, angling, rugby, soccer, cricket, miniature rifle, skittles and in March 1949 a meeting was held to discuss the forming of a bowls section.
On 4th September 1947 the Directors of R.A. Lister visited the Priory Gardens site to discuss a scheme to provide two tennis courts above the banks and ice house, and a 'Full sized bowling green'. They had already declared back in 1935, the space at the rear of Listers Club, Long Street was not large enough for bowls, so now the matter surfaced again, with a detailed costing for the work envisaged being required. En-Tout-Cas Ltd had quoted £1,120 to lay a 4 rink bowling green with other work (tree felling, demolition of shelters etc) costing £310. The Committee negotiated with the Directors of R.A. Lister & Co for a lease of the Priory Gardens to the Recreation and Social Club at £1 per annum, with three months notice on either side.
By June 1949, 14 sets of woods and 24 sets of overshoe slip covers had arrived, membership cards were available, and whilst the green was being prepared, Thornbury and Olveston clubs offered dates for matches and the use of their greens for practice. As 1950 season dawned, Listers not only had a bowling section but a green as well, and could invite visiting teams for the first time. Mr Peachey from Cam Mills came and lectured on "The Theory and practice of the Game of Bowls", competitions were organised, the green was open every evening with the Directors agreeing to it being opened on Sundays too.
The Dursley Gazette photo in 1950 of some of the members in their new blazers (see below for some of their names)
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The records show that in the 1950 season, 32 matches were played, of which 8 were won, 1 drawn, 7 abandoned, 16 lost or unfinished and a surplus in the bank of £90 ! Some of this money was then spent on the veranda of the pavilion, which still exists today. |
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There was a great celebration in the Lister Hall on December 21st 1950, with an Open Social, the occasion of a Mammoth Draw. It was advertised by a superb poster, rescued and framed and can still be seen today in the Club's new pavilion building. The RAL Brass band played until 10pm, followed by the Dance Band for the rest of the evening.
In January 1951 the Committee was anxious to get off to a good start with a new scoreboard. It was decided that members may introduce men friends who were visitors to the town at 1/- (10p) per 21 ends, if they arranged temporary membership of the Lister Club. By the end of May 1951 there were 53 members, which created a shortage of woods with members then beginning to buy their own; 8 pairs were sold through the Club - a set of woods cost about £9.75 at the time.
Evidently the Lister Directors were keeping an eye on the new sports section; a special meeting was called in July 1951 to receive a message from the President, Sir Percy Lister, who wished to promote an interdepartmental bowls competition. He suggested that this would widen the interest in the game and increase the membership even further. Events later proved that his judgement was correct.
In September 1951 it was proposed the Club should enter for the County Cup, and members were being encouraged by the Work's notice boards to enter for County Competitions. The Club enjoyed a good reputation throughout the County, and in 1957 Rowley Kilminster, who was Captain for the first four years, gained his County badge.
In 1965 match records bear witness to further progress. Of the 39 matches played, 22 were won, 13 lost, 1 drawn and 3 canceled. Three members, Messrs Cleall, Fryer and Bullimore reached the County finals and represented the Club in London for the National Championships.
Watch out Lads - Here they come !!
On 10th September 1962 an extraordinary general meeting was held at the Lister Club. Quote from the minutes :- "It was agreed that Ladies be permitted to play bowls". Quite a turn up for the books at the time but not too surprising as ladies had already been playing tennis, golf and many other sports for many years. It was emphasized that they must not hold executive positions on the committee, this being against GBA rules. It seems that some of them may have beaten one or two of the men, as early the following year, they could be selected for matches. There was a further female step forward in 1965 when they were awarded the privilege of being able to make up the numbers in interdepartmental matches if departments were short of men. This daring experiment seems to have been good for Club morale, as 1965 proved to be a record season, one in which, for the first time the ladies could sit down and eat their tea as well as preparing it.
In January 1951 the Committee was anxious to get off to a good start with a new scoreboard. It was decided that members may introduce men friends who were visitors to the town at 1/- (10p) per 21 ends, if they arranged temporary membership of the Lister Club. By the end of May 1951 there were 53 members, which created a shortage of woods with members then beginning to buy their own; 8 pairs were sold through the Club - a set of woods cost about £9.75 at the time.
Evidently the Lister Directors were keeping an eye on the new sports section; a special meeting was called in July 1951 to receive a message from the President, Sir Percy Lister, who wished to promote an interdepartmental bowls competition. He suggested that this would widen the interest in the game and increase the membership even further. Events later proved that his judgement was correct.
In September 1951 it was proposed the Club should enter for the County Cup, and members were being encouraged by the Work's notice boards to enter for County Competitions. The Club enjoyed a good reputation throughout the County, and in 1957 Rowley Kilminster, who was Captain for the first four years, gained his County badge.
In 1965 match records bear witness to further progress. Of the 39 matches played, 22 were won, 13 lost, 1 drawn and 3 canceled. Three members, Messrs Cleall, Fryer and Bullimore reached the County finals and represented the Club in London for the National Championships.
Watch out Lads - Here they come !!
On 10th September 1962 an extraordinary general meeting was held at the Lister Club. Quote from the minutes :- "It was agreed that Ladies be permitted to play bowls". Quite a turn up for the books at the time but not too surprising as ladies had already been playing tennis, golf and many other sports for many years. It was emphasized that they must not hold executive positions on the committee, this being against GBA rules. It seems that some of them may have beaten one or two of the men, as early the following year, they could be selected for matches. There was a further female step forward in 1965 when they were awarded the privilege of being able to make up the numbers in interdepartmental matches if departments were short of men. This daring experiment seems to have been good for Club morale, as 1965 proved to be a record season, one in which, for the first time the ladies could sit down and eat their tea as well as preparing it.
These extracts were taken from The History of R A Lister Bowling Club booklet, written by Bill Bray