A Brief History of the Association
In the course of a friendly bowls match between
Brockenhurst and New Milton in 1946 the germ of an idea of a New Forest
Bowling Association was planted.
As a result, on the 31st October 1946, a sub-committee from New Milton
met with four members of Brockenhurst B.C., this resulted in Mr. Cecil
Foot being asked to write to Bowling Clubs situated in Christchurch,
Lymington, Lyndhurst, Milford and Ringwood to seek their views on
forming an Association of local Clubs. Mr. Foot duly obliged and by
early 1947 had received sufficient favourable replies to convene the
inaugural meeting of interested parties. This was held at 6:30pm on
Tuesday 11th March 1947 at Mr. Foot's office in New Milton. The meeting
was attended by representatives of the five founder clubs namely -
Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Milford-on-Sea, New Milton and Ringwood. Jack
Rook of New Milton was asked to take the chair and thus became the
Association's first President.
1948 - Singles, Pairs and Triples competitions inaugurated.
Since 1947 an initial league of five teams has grown to five divisions
of eight teams.
The number of clubs in the association has increased from five to
sixteen as follows:-
1948 - Lymington
1952 - Fordingbridge
1953 - Esso (now Waterside)
1977 - Highcliffe
1979 - Braeside
1986 - Downton
1987 - Iford Bridge
1989 - Christchurch
1990 - Verwood
1999 - Totton & Eling
and most recently in 2002 - West Moors.
West Moors admission enabled the league to be enlarged to six divisions in 2003.
Unfortunately, given the reduction in the membership of some clubs, the leagues have had to be reduced again.
Christchurch closed down in 2013 so the NFBA now has a total of 15 clubs.
Iford Bridge closed in 2022. The NFBA now consists of 14 clubs.