 | 1895 : A meeting was held on
March 28th, 1985, at the Station Hotel Wellingborough it was decided to form
a Bowling and Quoits Club in the vicinity. To become a member of this
exclusive club a subscription of 5/- (£20 at today's value) was asked in
advance. The Station Hotel was paid £5 (£400 today) for the use per season
of green and beds and keeping them in order. Rules were drawn up and
December saw the laying of a new 38 x 30 yds green and town water was laid
on. The first AGM was held on 12th December 1895 and a profitable balance of
£2 19s 5d was recorded (£240 today) |
| 1896 : First competition cup
purchased for £5 and the first match arranged against Northampton Bowling
and Tennis Club. |
| 1897 : Subscriptions raised to
7/6 and 2/6 for joining. |
| 1898 : Subscriptions raised to
10/- and no joining fee. |
| 1900 : Club disbanded due to
new tenant at the Station Hotel. Club reformed with new tenant. |
| 1901 - 1907 : Uncertainty
as to the future of the club.
 |
| 1908 - 1909 : 75 members
still remain in the club. |
| 1910 : It was agreed that the
club play to the rules of the MCBA until that association adopts the rules
of the EBA. |
| 1911 : The club moves from
Railway End to Hatton Park. The Paddock in Hatton Street was purchased for
£950 (£35,000 today). Green keeper who also looked after tennis courts on
the site employed for £1 17s 6d (£131 today) per annum. |
| 1916 : The
Great War intervened. |
| 1918 : A
special meeting was called when an abatement of charge for grazing sheep on
the greens was turned down. |
| 1919 : The
Walker Cup was presented for a new competition club pairs still played
today. |
| 1923 : Club
facilities offered to EBA for finals and gratefully accepted. |
| 1924 : The
Thurston and Roberts Cups were presented to the club.
|
| 1926 : Members
were recommended to purchase a blazer from Dixon and Parker for 20/6d (£41
today). WBC badge designed. |
| 1927 - 1930 : Club
grows. |
| 1931 - 1932 : New
fixtures arranged with Works league, Irthlingborough, Lotus, Managers and
Foremen and Spencer Park. |
| 1933 : Green
keeper cuts greens diagonally to meet the modern trend. |
| 1935 - 1949 : Limited
records but tennis club separated from bowling club. |
| 1950 : Thursday
afternoon and evening matches become popular. |
| 1960 : R
H Stenhouse and R Brook join WBC, the standard of bowling soars and the
clubs fortunes accelerate .
 |
| 1961 : County
cups being won and Ladies Section begins to flourish. |
| 1963 : Club
wins the Manfield Cup twice in 3 years. R H Stenhouse selected to play for
England. |
| 1964 : J
H Frisby joins WBC and continues to run day to day activities as Hon
Secretary. |
| 1965 : Club
redecorated. |
| 1966 - 67 : Ideas
for an Indoor green minuted and sub committee formed. New Lounge built in
the clubhouse for £750 (£9,500). |
| 1968 : j Forster, H Sturgess,
R Crawley EBA Triples Champions. |
| 1969 - 71 : Club
continues to flourish and discussions continue regarding the provision of
indoor greens. |
| 1972 : Final
agreement to build an indoor 6 green facility. J Forster and R Stapleton instrumental
in this development placing their private businesses as security for loans
obtained from the bank. Many outdoor members also invest in this new
facility. |
| 1973 : Indoor
leagues organized. |
| 1975 : The
electric time bell was donated to the club and various fund raising efforts
took place to ensure the financial strength of the club. |
| 1980 : The
international Kodak Masters Day was held and acclaimed a huge success. |
| 1981 : No
15a Hatton Street purchased for the accommodation of future employees. |
| 1982 : J Forster becomes
County President followed by many years as England selector.. |
| 1985 : J
Forster becomes Midland Counties President. W
E Campen and E M Allen win county pairs. |
| 1986 - 1987 : Tennis
club requests extension of lease. |
| 1988 : R Stapleton becomes
England President following his presidencies of WBC, County and Midland
Counties. |
| 1989 : P
Broderick wins County Under 25's singles. |
| 1990 : Estimates
obtained to lay a new green in place of the tennis courts. First Floor added
to club house as board room. |
| 1991 : B
Rees wins county singles. P Broderick gains Under 25's International Cap.
Bottom 6 rink green added. |
| 1992 : J Forster becomes EBA
Junior V President. M Allen and W Campen win County Pairs for the third time.
Lounge
rebuilt. Indoor
Green recovered at a cost of £20,000 (£29,000 today). P Broderick wins
Champion of Champions, the Under 25s and the MCBA Singles |
| 1993 : P
Broderick gains full England cap and wins County Singles. Allen/Campen take
County pairs for the 4th time in 8 years. N Rees wins County Under 25s
Singles and several other singles titles. |
| 1994 : Allen/Campen
duo are joined by T Falkner and win County triples. N Rees gains under 25s
International Cap and wins the Under 25s County and MCBA singles. |
| 1995 : T Falkner M Allen W
Campen win County triples for second year. |
| 1996 : Charles Wells
Indoor Open Championship |
| 1997 :Numb Bum Riders (WBC bikers) join Waendel Walk as
the largest cycling entry. NBR win trophy and Presidents charity benefits
from their |
| 1998 :P Broderick wins Roberts Cup for the third year |
| 1999 : B Fokerd and P
Broderick are EBA pairs winners |
| 2000 : NBA Fours Finalists P
Coley W E Campen W Winsor M D Cooper |
| 2001 : Open crib league starts
on a Monday each week and is well attended. |
| 2002 : EBA Fours Semi
Finalists N Rees D Lyman E M Allen P Broderick. |
| 2003 : E Bailey donates new
shirts (designed by Chris Cory) for Junior Section |
| 2004 : WBC are Thomason Trophy
winners and continue to win for the next 3 years |
| 2005 : Mike King appointed
President of MCBA
WBC wins Leonard Denny
Memorial Trophy (National Competition)
Darren Lyman, Paul
Broderick, Karen Leveridge and Tina Burgess win National Mixed Outdoor
Championships. |
| 2006 : S J Lake appointed
County President. |
| 2007 : The
club suffered a serious fire at the end of the 2006/7 indoor season. Through
good management and hard work by a great many members the club was rebuilt
in a very short period. The club re-opened in early October 2007 in good
time for the indoor season and in great shape. |
| 2008 : Peter
Atherton appointed as Club Secretary designate to take over from John Frisby
at the AGM in February 2009.
Club becomes an equity club following EGM in November where a new
constitution was unanimously agreed upon giving equal club status to ALL
full members. |
