The Gloucester County Women’s Bowling Association came into being in 1934, some 29 years after the corresponding men’s body, this thanks to the efforts of a small devoted band of lady players, tired of being regarded as an adjunct to the men.   Prime movers were Mrs MK Dennis and Mrs EK Gwilliam, these becoming respectively the first and second Presidents of the fledgling association.  Mrs Gwilliam also made the England team in 1934.

The 2nd World War curtailed serious bowling activity, but Mrs M Dale resumed her Presidency afterwards and was then succeeded by the final President to serve a continuous two year term, Mrs CK Smith.   The international career of Gloucestershire’s most capped England player, Mrs Hallatt, straddled the war years, incredibly lasting from 1932 to 1958.  In the later part of that period Gloucestershire had as many as three ladies in the England team, with Mrs Edith Hook and Mrs Mattock in addition.

Gloucestershire has always had some measure of success in the Ladies’ National Championships, though initially at the level of one winner or winning team in each decade.  In 1946, this was the Triples team of Mrs Gadbury, Mrs Davis and Mrs Martin.  The fifties saw Mrs McDowall and Mrs Hallatt win the Pairs in 1955.  In the sixties it was a Gloucester County team win in the Walker Cup (1961).  However, in the seventies, the pace of success quickened, with a rush of five titles in a 4 year period:  Mrs Gladys Davies, Mrs Kath Saill and Mrs Em Howe (Cheltenham Spa)  the Triples in 1975; Mrs Jeanie Croot (Canford) the Singles in 1976, following this with the British Isles Singles title  in 1977; Mrs P Kaus, Mrs D Williams and Mrs M Momber the Triples, also in 1977; Mrs Nell Caudle (Tewkesbury) the Saga Singles in 1978.

In 1981 saw success once more the Saga Singles, this time with Mrs Helen Goddard (Cheltenham Spa). Then, in 1988 and again in 1990, the Gloucestershire pairing of Mrs Barbara Carey and Mrs Peggy Edwards (Barnwood) took the Over 55 Pairs title twice.  The nineties in fact proved almost as rewarding as the seventies had done, with titles for Mrs Margaret Reeve (Caer Glow) in the Champion of Champions in 1993, for Mrs Pat Oliver and Mrs Peggy Roache (Bristol St Andrews) in the Over 55 Pairs in 1995, and for Mrs Barbara Prew (Northwick) - with husband Alan - in the 1998 Mixed Pairs.

In terms of international recognition, in the mid-60s, Mrs E Crawford had claimed a place in the England team.  However, since then only Mrs Jeanie Croot (Canford), after her British Isles success, has been selected – this over a six year period in the late seventies and early eighties.  Several Junior Internationals have staked their claims, however, with Miss Sue Oliver (Bristol St Andrews) in the late 1980’s and the strong and long-lasting pair of Rachel Winter-Alsop (Bristol St Andrews) and Kerry-Anne Dyer (Yate) in the late 1990’s and into the new century.

were run under the aegis of Bowls England, the BE Chief Executive, Tony Allcock and the President of BE, Angela Harris, both from Gloucestershire, also appear in the photograph.  Undoubtedly a unique occasion, and a year in which the County could be particularly pleased to win a national title.

The Association has always been fortunate in its Officers, the most notable of several very long-serving Secretaries being Doris Barnes (Barnwood), who served 20 years up to 1985. An historical singularity was that Mrs Gladys Uren was appointed permanent GCWBA Chairman, serving in this position for nearly 20 years from 1962.

The list of Presidents is testament to the devotion of a long line of bowling enthusiasts in our county.  Two ladies have so far taken on the role twice, Mrs Peggy Snell (Olveston), in 1976 and 1980, and Mrs Alice Copeland (Stroud) in 1975 and 1992.  Only Mrs Freda Pope ever attained the Presidency of the EWBA, in 1964, ten years after she was a member of the England team over a two year period.  She is at the centre of a GCWBA  40th Anniversary group (left), including 1974  EWBA President Mrs W Buttery (l) and 1974 GCWBA President Mrs Marie Higgins (r), taken after a game at Chedville in that year.

Several significant milestones were reached by the Association in the final two decades of the 20th Century.  The 50th Anniversary in 1984 was celebrated by the production of a special badge, the 60th in 1994 marked by a church service held at Cirencester, and the Millennium by another church service held in Tuffley.

To return to the theme of National Championship winners, the new century has seen renewed success for Gloucestershire players, with Mrs Val Ayers (Royal Forest of Dean) winning the Over 55 Singles in 2004 and Mrs Val Osmond and Mrs Sue Latham (Ardagh) the Pairs in 2006 (picture right).  The latter pairing also reached the Final of the 2007 British Isles Championships.

 In 2008, Gloucestershire won another National title, with Cynthia and Rachel Winter-Alsop (Wotton-under-Edge) taking the National Mother and Daughter Pairs Competition (picture below).   This group emphasises the high profile of Gloucestershire in English bowling in 2008.  In the very first year in which the Championships

2008 was, however, also auspicious in that one of Gloucestershire’s Past Presidents, Angela Harris (on the right in the picture left), was elected as the very first President of Bowls England, the new unified governing body for bowls in England.  Angela had a busy and demanding term, which she carried off with dedication and aplomb, and she will incidentally be the only BE President to ever serve 15 rather than 12 months.  The Association is proud for Angela and of Angela !

The 2009 season, our 75th Anniversary, is dealt with in detail on the following page in the Web site.