Pitchcare Tally Ho, we’re not homeless
Birmingham bowls club seek police assistance after leaving historic home
Their predicament began when the pub (which had been converted into a Chinese restaurant at the turn of the century) was sold to a new landlord last year. It soon became clear that the the new landlord, and even a public protest gaining much coverage in the local press, the club found themselves homeless, losing what was one of the best maintained bowling greens in the league. The previous landlord had allowed the bowlers
to stay in return for maintaining the land, but the club, which has eleven separate teams, claims arrived with what are thought to be plans for an Indian restaurant. Club members claim they were a contract agreeing to leave the site by the end of the 2014 season. Mike Pritchard, greenkeeper at the club, said;
of my family played there, right back to my grandfather and now my grandson Ben, who’s only seven.”
was a boy. He said; “It’s hard to express just what this club means to people. It’s like a second home for most of them. It isn’t just the game, it’s the socialising aspect and the friends they have made over the years.”
as there are not many spare capacity bowling possible saviour, with the Birmingham City’s Tally The Tally Ho Police Club is situated opposite
Edgbaston County Cricket Ground and nestles in six hectares of prime land between the busy Bristol Road and Pershore Road. The club has been in existence since the late 1950s and provides a well run social club for serving and ex-serving police men and women.
I
members, including two senior size natural grass two outdoor natural grass bowling greens, one bowling green.
Tally Ho’s Club Director, who is responsible for very busy club, with over 7,000 members using seven days a week and is especially busy during weekends.
and establishing their needs in terms of access and that members of the King George V Bowling Club could become associate members of Tally Ho, giving them complete access to the crown green for club matches. However, as part of the deal, KGV would be
and maintenance programme to get the green back the last couple of years, had only been mown on a
in terms of nutrient status, soil type and level of thatch content. As the photograph shows, it was very dry with a small layer of thatch. These were taken in March as soon as the club took over the management of the green. The results also showed a low soil pH at 4.6. raise the pH to a more favourable level of between depth and grass density. Mike is aware that they won’t be able to do watering the green by hose and self travelling respond to produce a half decent playing surface for the remainder of this year’s playing season. Mike is very complimentary about the new
superb and they have made us so welcome.”
surroundings very well. I’m hopeful that it will there has been renewed interest from some police members to join the bowling club.” with thirty-four regulars turning out to play league games throughout the week. Tally Ho have managed to provide a small lock up garage on site for the club’s machinery.
have secured their existence for the foreseeable
Mark
takes soil samples to establish the
Lisa and Mike explain the set-up to Mark
the green
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