History of Aylestone Hall Bowls Club

The Leicester City Parks were approached in 1952 with a view to form a Bowls Club.
This was approved by Leicester City Council and a meeting was held in September 1952 to form an inaugural committee.
It was agreed that the Club Badge should be the peacock of the Manners Family who were early owners of nearby Aylestone Hall – the 'Rainwater' Head of the peacock carries the initials “F.J.M 1768”.

The Club actually officially opened in April 1953 and several fixtures were arranged for September 1953.
The Parks Department then decided not to open the Aylestone Hall rinks till 1954, so the early fixtures were played on the greens of Stead and Simpson (location not known).

As from 1954 all the officers were re-elected and a fixture list for 2 Saturday Teams and 1 Thursday team were arranged.
In late 1954 the Club decided to join the Leicestershire Bowling Association and The Leicester City Parks Bowling Association.

The first official fixture was against Countesthorpe BC but the club had to borrow a couple of players from Blaby – including a lady! This match was duly won. In August of that year the Leicester Bowling Club invited Aylestone Hall to take part in the Leicestershire Triples Knockout Competition in which Aylestone reached the final.

After many postponents the Aylestone Hall Green opened on the last day of the 1954 season against Kettering Parks. Alderman Wale (Chairman of the Parks Committee) bowled the first bowl and the Aylestone British Legion loaned the club tables and chairs.
During the winter of 1954 a meeting of ladies took place to request that a ladies section should be formed and this was duly approved at the 1955 General Meeting.

There were obviously some very good bowlers in the club because in 1955 Aylestone Hall reached the final of the Bramley Bowl Competition and during the following twelve seasons reached the final on five occasions, winning in 1962 and 1985. In addition the club won the Wilson Shield in 1985 and also in 1990.

In the South Leicestershire Triples League Aylestone Hall won the Partridge Shield in 5 successive years 1991 to 1995.
The last major win was in 1999 when the Club once again won the Bramley Bowl.

Aylestone Hall has had some fine players over the years and a tradition of success in competitions.

Many thanks goes to Bill Newbold for compiling this.