Many people wouldn’t associate the word cliffhanger with the sport of bowls, exciting as it often is. But, in the case of St John’s (Meads) Bowling Club, the term is more appropriate than they would perhaps like.
TOM JAMES reports on the club that is literally ‘on the edge’.
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t John’s (Meads) Bowling Club is a little different from most of its counterparts. Yes, the surface of its
single green is immaculately manicured; yes, most of its members are enjoying retirement; and yes, it too struggles to attract young blood into the ranks. However, few, if any clubs, are positioned as precariously as St John’s. The sound of the sea presents a perpetual backdrop to play but you cannot take a stroll along any nearby promenade, because St John's is perched near the top of one of England’s highest cliffs - Beachy Head in East Sussex. Rising to prominence in a recent showing of BBC2’s Coast series focusing on south-coastal erosion, St John’s is also the only council-owned bowls facility in the region.
Eastbourne Borough Council has lovingly nurtured the sole square of green for more than 70 years, proof of a long-standing commitment to bowls that permeates every club sited within its boundaries.
Although the programme highlighted the rate of cliff erosion on this most renowned - not to say notorious - stretch of Britain’s coastline, both club and council remain resolute that the waves shall not pass - at least not sometime soon. “We are in no immediate danger,”
declares Tony Holland, past captain of St John’s who also handles media and publicity for the club, despite the fact that further up the cliff some years ago,
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the lighthouse had to be moved, stone by stone, inland to prevent it from crashing into the English Channel - and that it may have to be moved again as the precipitous edge moves inexorably closer. “It does get pretty windy up here,”
Tony adds rather matter-of-factly, “and we have to contend with the salt air, but actually the green is mostly sheltered from the worst of the weather by high hedging on the seaward side. The south- east corner of the green is windswept but that’s about it.” Perhaps the surprisingly benign playing conditions explain why St John’s numbers some 35 ladies among its 80- strong (and growing) membership. “This was traditionally a man’s sport until about 20 years ago,” recounts Tony. “Fortunately, attitudes change,” although, he contends, “men do just have the edge still, despite ladies’ improving standards of play. They do not compete against each other directly, although we do run mixed pairs here. There’s a unisex indoors facility in Eastbourne, however, where the men and the ladies do square up against each other in the singles.” As there are no leagues in Eastbourne
currently, all St John’s matches are friendlies although the club enters the local town competition along with the seven or so other bowls clubs. With an average age of its members of
around 60, the club is surely desperate to bring in younger players - otherwise its days are well and truly numbered,
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irrespective of the threat from the sea. “Some clubs are trying very hard to attract younger members,” says Tony, “but it’s difficult to keep them. It is happening to some degree. Bowls can be a young sport.”
“Often, members’ daughters, sons and grandchildren join when they are 14 or 15 but, as they get older, they drift away - they can think of other forms of entertainment,” he adds wistfully. Even more pressing than the threat of
erosion or the drive for new members is some urgent remedial work to the green. He holds no fears over the quality standard of the undertaking, however. “The council does a grand job,” he states. Work is about to start on raising the edges of the green, which had slipped through prolonged wear and tear over the years. “The problem has come about by players stepping down from the edge
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