THE BEGINNING OF HALLS LADIES BOWLS CLUB

A road was going to run through the green at Bexleyheath Conservative Club, so Daphne Cottenham and I decided to look for another green.  We had a pamphlet from J & E Halls sports ground saying there was bowls available for members and as I was a member I decided to ask questions.  I had contact with the sports ground and had a meeting with the Sports Manager and another gentleman.  They did not think I knew how to run a club, but after talking they changed their minds and gave the go ahead, subject to the men’s section of the bowls club agreeing to a ladies section being formed.

Permission was granted.  We started with 10 members, six from Bexleyheath Conservative Club – Daphne Cottenham, Doris Batchelor, Marion Leonard, Maureen Bowes, June Cain and Jean Lord.  Other members were Ann Stanford, Mary Wilkins, Pam Bibby and Joan Lord.  We applied for affiliation to the county in October 1988, proposed by Brooksby Bowls Club and seconded by Hesketh Park. 
Membership over 10 years: 

1988 - 10 
1990 - 25 
1993 - 32 
1999 - 41

We started with five on the committee and they worked very hard to get the club going from nothing, with no money, cupboards, jacks or mats.

The club has done very well over the years in the County competitions and outside competitions.  Members have achieved their County badges over the years.  Some have left and gone to pastures new.  Seven members over the first 10 years, making a total of 12 badged members in the club at that time.

The club has a reputation of being very friendly who enjoy themselves when they go anywhere.  Long may it continue?

A CLUB CAN BE JUST WHAT WE MAKE IT IF ONY WE START OUT THE RIGHT WAY AND TRY TO PUT LAUGHTER AND FRIENDSHIP IN ALL THAT WE DO AND WE SAY.

SECRETARY Jean Lord 1988 - 2002

In 2006, Halls Bowls Club lost their green and club house at Princess Park to make way for a new football stadium for Dartford Football Club, so we were to be moved to Cotton Lane, adjacent to Stone Lodge Indoor club

The new club and green took two years to build, so the members had to play all of their games away until the new club house and green were ready.

We have been at the new club for ten years now, which has a lovely club house and an excellent green.  The members are very proud of their new club house and green, and have had even more successes since moving there.

This year will be the ladies 33rd Anniversary 

Here’s hoping for another successful season for Halls in 2022

THE SUCCESSES OF  HALL’S LADIES BOWLS CLUB

1989 - J & E HALL’S BOWLS CLUB 
Mollie Cleggett Quarter Final and Belle Trophy runner up

1990 
County Champion of Champion – Quarter final –June Cain 
County Singles section final – Jean Lord

1991   NAME CHANGED TO HALLS BOWLS CLUB

 

County Triples semi final – Kay Fordham, Brenda Bates, Valerie Smoothy ***

County Champion of Champions semi final – Jean Lord 
County Fours runners up – June Cain, Daphne Cottenham, Doris Batchelor and Jean Lord ***qualified for their County badges. 
County Secretary and Treasurer’s winner – Jean Lord

1992 
Mollie Cleggett – 4 th place 
County pairs quarter finalists – Daphne Cottenham, June Cain 
County Two Wood quarter final – Jean Lord 
County Singles semi final- Jean Lord

1993 – resting

1994 
Belle Trophy quarter final 
County Triples semi final – June Cain, Doris Batchelor, Jean Lord 
County singles quarter final – Jean Lord 
County fours section final

1995 
Belle Trophy – 4 th place 
County Singles section final – Jean Lord 
County Pairs section final – Daphne Cottenham, June Cain 
County Division 2 – Two-Wood – last eight – seven from Halls

1996 
County Triples section final – Doris Batchelor, Jean Lord, June Cain. 
County Fours section final – Julie Benning, Sue Farthing, Sue Miles and Jean Lord 
County Singles winner – Jean Lord

1997 
County Secretary & Treasurers quarter final – Daphne Cottenham 
EWBA over 55 singles, 2 nd Inter County round – June Cain

1998 
County Fours winners – Julie Benning, Sue Farthing, Sue Miles and Jean Lord – Celia Barnes played in the final.  Julie Benning and Sue Farthing qualified for their County  badge.  (Julie never continued bowling) 
County Two-Wood semi final – Sue Miles 
County Triples semi final – June Cain, Sue Miles and Jean Lord 
Charity League – 2 nd

1999 
County Pairs quarter final – Joan Collins and Rose Penniall 
Folkestone Open Singles winner – June Cain

2000 
Charity league winners 
Belle Trophy – 4 th

County Singles quarter final – Joan Collins 
County Fours quarter final – Rose Penniall, Sue Farthing, Sue Miles and Jean Lord.

2001 
Charity league winners 
Hartley Invitation Triples winners – Valerie Smoothy, Irene Charter and Maureen Bowes. 
County Pairs quarter final – Doris Batchelor and Sue Farthing 
***  Rose Penniall qualified for her County badge.

2002 
County Pairs Winners - Sue Miles & Jean Lord 
E.W.B.A Nationals Pairs Quarter Finalists (last 8) - Sue Miles & Jean Lord 
Bexley Borough Singles - June Cain 
Charity League Winners for the third year in succession. 
County Two Wood Quarter Final – Joan Collins

2003 
County Pairs Winners – Doris Batchelor & Sue Farthing 
Officers Cup Semi Finalist – Joan Collins 
County Fours Quarter Finalists – Brenda James, Sue Farthing, Sue Miles, Jean Lord 
Bexley Borough Double Rink – Semi Finalists 
Bexley Borough Mixed Pairs Runners Up - Joan & Barry Collins 
Bexley Borough Triples Runners-Up – Pat Rofe, June Cain & Pam Wilson

2004 
County Fours Winners – Hazel Tucker, ***Joan Collins, Gina King & June Cain 
The above team qualified for Leamington. 
***Joan Collins qualified for her County badge 
County Triples Semi Finalists – Hazel Tucker, Gina King & June Cain 
County Two Wood Runner-Up – ***Joan Collins 
County Benevolent Two Wood Triples Winners – Joan Collins, Hazel Tucker & Gina King 
EWBA Over 55 Pairs Divisional Finalists – June Cain & Brenda James 
Bexley Borough Mixed Pairs Winners – Joan & Barry Collins 
Mollie Cleggett – 3 rd place 

 

2005 
County Singles – semi finalist – Joan Collins 
County 2-wood – semi finalist – Joan Collins 
County Triples – semi finalists -Joan Collins, Doris Batchelor, Sue Farthing 
County Pairs – semi finalists – Joan Collins, Brenda James 
*** Brenda James qualified for her County badge 
National Mixed Fours - Quarter Finalists – Joan Collins, Gina King, Barry Collins, Malcolm Searles 
(Qualified for Worthing) 
Bexley Borough Singles Finalist – June Cain 
Belle Trophy  - Runners Up

2006 
County Pairs – Runners up – Joan Collins and Brenda James 
The above team qualified for Leamington 
County 2-Wood - Semi finalist – Joan Collins 
Bexley Double Rink – Winners 
Belle Trophy – Runners Up 
Sue and Paul Farthing won the Dartford & District Mixed Pairs

2007 
County Fours Winners – Doris Batchelor, Brenda James, June Cain, Sue Farthing 
County Two-Wood Runner-Up June Cain 
The above teams qualified for Leamington - News Article

2008 
County Singles Winner – June Cain 
Qualified for Leamington

2009 
Sue Farthing National Champion of Champions (Last 16) 
Belle Trophy – Runners Up 
Sue Farthing – Officers Cup Runner-Up 
Pat Farthing – Maude Wood Semi Finalist 
Brenda James, County President

2010 
Brenda James Officers Cup Runner up 
National Mixed Pairs – Last 16 – Doris Batchelor, Barry Collins

2011 
Belle Trophy Winners

2012 
County Singles Runner up – Joan Collins 
Sue Farthing Last 16 – National Championships 
The above qualified for Leamington 
County Pairs Semi-finalists – Joan Collins & Ellen Phillips 
Belle Trophy 3 rd place

2013 
Charity League Joint Winners 
Belle Trophy 4 th place

2014 
Charity League Winners 
County Singles Semi-finalist – Joan Collins 
County Triples Semi-finalists – Joan Collins, Helen Banks, Ellen Phillips 
Pairs Quarter finalists – Joan Collins, Ellen Phillips 
***Helen Banks qualified for her County badge

2015 
Charity League Winners 
Dartford & District Champion of Champions Winner – June Cain

2016 
Dartford & District Champion of Champions Winner – June Cain 
Bexley Double Rink - Runners Up 
Bexley Pairs Runners Up - Brenda James & June Cain 
County Divisional Finals 2 Wood Winner - Brenda James  
National Senior Pairs 1st Round - Brenda James and June Cain 
Charity League Winners 
New Changing Room erected 2016

2017 
Dartford & District Champion of Champions Winner - Anne Hicks 
Dartford & District John Forsey Rose Bowl Double Triples Winners (Halls BC) 
Charity League Winners 
Amber Dineen, Lennie Dineen, Steve Marrett - Bexley Mixed Triples Winners 
 

2018 
County 2 wood singles   - 3rd place - Amber Dineen 
***Amber qualified for her County Badge, and for Leamington. 
Amber Dineen, Lennie Dineen, Steve Marrett - Bexley Mixed Triples Runners-Up 
 

2019 
County Pairs Semi Finalists - Jean Runeckles & June Cain 
*** Jean Runeckles Qualified for her County Badge 
 

2020 
Unfortunately all games had to be cancelled because of the Coronavirus Outbreak.

2021 
Nothing to report,  Covid-19 Pandemic 

2022 
Hopefully 2022 will be a better year for everyone.  

2023 

Joan Collins -  Became a Life Member of Kent County Bowling Association after retiring from the Ladies County Executive after 15 Years Service

Jean Runeckles  D&D  winner champions of champions winner 
Jean Runeckles D&D  ladies singles runner up 
 

2024 

Following an AGM on the 28 January Halls Bowls Club are now a mixed club, so we no longer have a ladies section  

Through the years of this club, these people have played and have had trials for the JOHN’S TROPHY & WALKER CUP (Double Rink) for the Kent County.  These matches take place against other Counties: 
 

Doris Batchelor, June Cain, Jean Lord, Sue Miles, Sue Farthing, Gina King, Joan Collins, Pat Andrews, Jean Runeckles, Amber Dineen

2025

it is now 100 years since the club was formed with a men's section, with the mens beginning in 1925 and  ladies joining in 1988 before becoming a mixed club in 2023.