Holwell Sports centenary match revives historic links with local clubs

Among them were Holwell’s nearest neighbour, Melton Town who were represented by Jenny McConnell, Barbara and Les Woodcock and Vince Darling.

Town were mentioned in the minutes of a 1924 club meeting by the captain of the day, Mr J. Daykin who said he believed Holwell would never had a club if it had not been for several Melton players going across to play on Saturday afternoons.

Holwell’s links with Market Overton, Belvoir Vale, Syston and Oakham go back to the Kings Cup, originally an annual knockout competition which was first mentioned in June 1928 in the Melton Times and Vale of Belvoir Vale Gazette.

Belvoir Vale were represented by Lawrie and Viv Pugh, Sue Britton and Simon Gant, Market Overton by Jeannie Hutton Annette Oliver, Richard Lambert and Mal Croson, Oakham by Roz Carter, Beryl Birch, Ray Wilkins and Bob Hammon, and Syston by Tom Jordan, Jan Holmes, Pauline Wright and George Stone.

The other visitors, Stanton Bowls Club are linked by the Stanton Iron Company which ran Holwell Works.

The club’s badge of a horse with an arrow in its chest was the works symbol and represented the death of horsepower and emergence of electricity.

Stanton BC were represented by Janice and Alan Hunt, Jim Burrows and Stan Wilmot.

The highest up rink of the afternoon’s bowling went to Melton Town before the teams enjoyed a meal.

Holwell Sports club president Richard Batsford would like to thank everyone involved.

The club welcomes new members. For more details, contact the secretary on (01664) 668317, email [email protected] or follow them on Twitter @HolwellSportsBC