Labour Councillor for South Portslade, Cllr Les Hamilton, writing about his work to support Portslade Bowls Club:

Portslade Bowls Club have really enjoyed their first season on the all-weather outdoor green. In fact, they were still playing on it in mid-December! The green was opened officially by the Mayor, Cllr Alan Robins, in July. This was very appropriate as the green is in Alan’s ward, South Portslade.

The previous green was behind the council offices and was removed when the offices were to be demolished to make way for a housing development where work is currently taking place. The Conservative cabinet member at the time who made the closure decision, a Portslade councillor, told me that he was unaware that the bowling green was there!

There was a suggestion that Portslade Bowls Club should amalgamate with Hangleton Bowls Club!

Alan and I were determined to keep Portslade Bowls Club going as a separate club and be relocated in Victoria Recreation Ground.

This was agreed and led to the splendid facility that they now have. There are now six rinks whereas on the old green there were only four.

Now that the existence of the green is obvious to all there has been a large growth in membership to over 100. The old pavilion did not even have a toilet facility. The new pavilion has all the necessary facilities.

Cllr Alan Robins and I could see that the new pavilion needed more furniture and equipment, so we were pleased to donate £1000 of our ward budget last year to help equip the pavilion.

One of the members told me that Portslade Bowls is the friendliest club that she as ever belonged to, and Alan and I are pleased to have been able to retain this facility for Portslade.

Cllr Les Hamilton

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Image: Portslade Bowls Club