WESSEX Ladies Bowls Club has been Associate Members of Clarence Bowls Club since 1965 and, in complete agreement with Clarence Bowls Club, have throughout 57 years paid our green fees and contributed towards utilities and numerous outgoings at Clarence Park.

We have never been subsidised by Clarence and have never received any income from the bar and social activities. All other outgoings have been mutually agreed with Clarence and settled by Wessex, all amounts paid by Wessex were entered by Clarence as a “donation.”

However as Clarence Bowls Club wish to apply for Community Amateur Sports Club status, they held a special meeting in September 2022 when their members voted to form a single club and they are now in the process of altering their constitution to remove the associated membership of Wessex Ladies Bowls Club. 

It seems ironic that the ethos of a Community Amateur Sports Club is to bring together all people in the local community to enjoy sporting activities whereas, in order to apply for Community Amateur Sports Club status, Clarence Bowls Club will have prevented a well established ladies bowling club from continuing to enjoy their 57 years bowling at Clarence Park.

In February 2023, Clarence Bowls Club advised Wessex that with effect from March 31 2023 they could no longer use the club house facilities at Clarence Park, which has resulted in Wessex being homeless and having to withdraw from participating in the Wessex League and the Weston and District League, also from competing in the Somerset County competitions namely the Southey and Fear cup.

This has been a devastating blow to Wessex members, many of which have been members for 30 plus years. Wessex is well known in the Somerset area and will be sadly missed by not only its members but numerous local ladies bowls clubs and with whom long lasting friendships have been made.

In spite of our differences, we wish Clarence success in their future bowling.

Wessex Ladies Bowls Club.