A little blast from the past made its presence felt in Abergavenny earlier this year when an old shop sign was unveiled in Frogmore Street during a recent renovation.

The sign read Claude Stephens newsagent - a name instantly familiar to many acquainted with Abergavenny Bowls Club - as Claude was one of the four local bowlers who represented Wales at the 1962 Empire Games held in Perth, Australia.

Alongside Claude, the rest of the red-blazered Abergavenny men consisted of Albert Evans, Tom Griffiths, and Lynn Probert. It was the first time in history all four players were chosen from the same club.

Although the four bowlers who had previously won the 1960 Welsh Bowling Association Rinks Competition won no medals, they were placed fourth and made a magnificent impression which put Abergavenny on the worldwide bowling map, and added another proud chapter to the rich and colourful history of Abergavenny Bowls Club.

Founded at the Great Western Hotel in 1860, the first known photograph of the club hangs in the clubhouse alongside the names and occupations of 20 members, and an unnamed young man on the flank.

On the far left in the front row off the picture is Abergavenny Chronicle founder Edwin Morgan.

In the background can be seen part of the Railway Station building and the slopes of the Little Skirrid.

The club was one of the first in the South Wales area and as such, in the early days, there were few other bowls clubs with which to play matches. There are written reports of a match being played in Cardiff in 1878 to celebrate the first season of a new green opened in Sophia Gardens, but the only press coverage given to a match was when Abergavenny played Cardiff in the 1880s.

The absence of these reports is not evidence that no similar matches took place, it is merely evidence that very few sporting activities were covered by the press at the time.

The expansion of bowling greens and bowls clubs belongs to the last decade of the nineteenth century and onwards into the twentieth century, when many municipal and private greens were laid.

Bowls, alongside archery, is said to be the oldest of British outdoor pastimes. Yet in its early years this most refined of games was subject to repressive legislation because the frequent association of bowling greens with taverns encouraged the association of gamesters and others of dissolute character.

It was Great Britain’s taverns and inns which saw the game flourish, as the greens were often seen as a pulling point for thirsty punters.

And of course, Abergavenny was no exception. There used to be piece of land behind the Great Western Hotel on which a bowling green was laid out. It was improved and enlarged by the hotelier Mr James Howard, at his own expense, and because of its location the club was sometimes called Little Skirrid Green Club.

The Chronicle’s founder Edwin Morgan was the first President of the club after it was officially reorganized and recognized as the Abergavenny Bowls Club in 1878. In 1882 he handed over the office to F.C. Hanbury Williams whilst stating “new blood was now needed to guide the club.”

In the late 1890s interest in the club appeared to wane and many believe 1895 was the year in which the club ceased to meet at the Great Western Hotel ground.

The decline of interest in the game could be the lack of younger bowlers coming forward, but also because in 1896 the Abergavenny Cricket Club moved to its permanent home at Avenue Road and offered a rival attraction for those interested in summer games and an associated social life.

Yet help was at hand when the cricket club offered the bowling club a chance to re-establish itself at its present home at Avenue Road.

During subsequent seasons it is worth noting that several cricketers were to be found in the lists of bowls players from time to time and it would appear relations between the two clubs were most amicable.

The war in 1914 brought important changes to the Abergavenny Cricket Club. After much soul searching the club virtually closed down its sporting activities because so many of the playing members were with the Colours.

The bowling club was not affected in the same way. In those days young men were rarely seen on the green as serious players.

1921 and 1922 revealed an abysmally low quality of play in competitive games by the club. Leading F.H. Facey to comment at the Annual Dinner in the autumn of 1922, “If we did not win matches we were jolly good losers.”

This complacency was rudely shattered by the announcement of the Borough Council decision of December 18, 1922, to lay a bowling green and six tennis courts at Bailey Park. The club could not continue in its slapdash way and face defeat by an upstart rival in the town.

In the 1930s, there was a universal emphasis on competitive rather than social bowling, and Abergavenny’s fixture list was expanded and affiliation with the Monmouthshire Bowling Association took place.

In 1937 J. Evenson was the first Abergavenny Club member to win the County Singles Championship.

With a growing membership and the additional demand for space to meet the needs of the Nevill Ladies’ Club, which has shared the facilities since 1976, there was a move to extend and renovate the pavilion officially opened on April 21, 1960.

In this the leadership was taken by E.L. (Lyn) Probert, whose achievements as a national and international bowler made him pre-eminent among the members. Unfortunately he did not live long enough to see the realization of his idea, but the extension was finally opened on July 4, 1984 and dedicated to his memory.

The 2016 season will begin with the club’s Opening Day on Saturday 16 April. Proceedings will begin at 2.15 pm with the ceremonial first bowl of the season, delivered by club president Robert Poynter. This will be followed by a friendly game between all club members.

Having gained promotion last year Abergavenny will be competing in division one of the Monmouthshire Bowling Association. They will also be playing in division two of the Gwent Bowls League three rinks format . The ladies will be playing in the Monmouthshire and South Wales Ladies Bowls League. In addition there will be a series of friendly games for both the ladies and mixed teams. The club also hold a series of social events throughout the year. These have been Quiz Nights, Skittles Evenings and Barbecues in the recent past.

Anyone who is interested in playing the game of bowls will be welcome to come along to the Opening Day on 16 April. If unable to attend on that day, you can contact John Whomersley on 01873 850924 or Jackie Evans on 01873 853301.