Roll up for Bowling
Published: 02 June 2025
Many thanks to Audrey Franks, Club Captain, and Terry Decoine, President, for asking Gill and I to the Sevenoaks Outdoor Bowling Club’s Open Day last Sunday. Most importantly, they organised great weather, and this corner of Hollybush Rec was a beautiful haven of calm green space – with tea and cake.
The point of Open Day is to invite people who haven’t tried bowling to have a go, and this year the invitation was pretty successful. We met several new bowlers there – including some promising to return.
We were well looked after by Terry, who organised a game for us. This was our third attempt at Hollybush Bowls and we do seem to be getting better! The green was in better shape than I’ve seen it for several years, and the club is putting a lot of effort into improving its facilities.
Sevenoaks Outdoor Bowling Club has been around in Sevenoaks since 1911, the current green built by Sevenoaks Urban District Council in 1929. Apart from the day in 1940 when a German bomber crashed in Hollybush Rec and bits of it landed on the green, it’s been in use ever since.
The bowls club is a hidden gem of quiet overlooking Knole Park – but with serious sporting purpose. Do take a look.
Cllr Tony Clayton
Sevenoaks Town Mayor
Photo: Cllr Tony Clayton and Gill Clayton weigh up their bowls before club president Terry Decoine gives them essential coaching.