'We're hoping for a great season' says Staffordshire bowls club which has be rolling for 160 years

More than 40 supporters and players turned out on a sunny Saturday in recognition of the anniversary and the appointment of Peter Dunne at the green in the heart of Cannock town centre.

The newly-elected president  bowled the first end, using a special set of woods used for the occasion. These bowls were first won by a Mr L. Dainty Snr and presented at Cannock Bowling Green Club's annual dinner, held at the adjacent Royal Oak on October 19, 1907. They were subsequently donated to the club by a descendent of Mr Dainty in 2005.

Paul Dainty, a current playing member at the club is a great grandson of Mr L Dainty Snr and was also invited to roll the woods at the event.

Peter Dunne says: " It is a great honour for me to be in this position and I'm hoping that we have a great season." 

He added that the club's fundraising will be in aid of education projects including Rodbaston College based in Penkridge. 

The lawn has been used for bowling since at least 1753 and provided a green space in the middle of the town, sandwiched between the Market Place and High Green. 

 The club also stated: "The green is clearly visible on Ordinance Survey maps of the area and was noted in Stebbing Shaw’s Antiquities of Staffordshire (published in 1801) as a public bowling green, surrounded by a handsome brick wall, constructed in 1753. 

"Similarly, it has always been associated with the adjacent stone hexagonal Conduit Head built in 1736 to provide the town with good water, good enough for Cannock to become a much-visited Spa which in turn put the green centre stage. 

Its single use as a bowling green became the subject of High Court action resulting in an indenture being drawn up between the local authority and club members. This document dated October 23, 1896 created a trust comprising four trustees from the club and four from the local authority which still prevails to this day. The green is held in trust and its use cannot be changed while it has at least 12 members. 

Through its lifetime the green has been used to mark major public events, including jubilee celebrations for monarchs Victoria, George V and Elizabeth II, and it was honoured by a visit in 1977 by the then Prince Charles. This year the green will be used as part of the town's VE Day celebrations taking place on May 10.

Currently boasting around 60 members, the club is always keen to recruit more. The club runs a series of cup competitions during the season, usually on a Saturday, alongside four knockout comps, for which members enter annually. 

Membership inquiries should be made via phone number 07742 694621.