Members Stories Thorndon Bowls Club The Coy Family

Thorndon Bowls Club Members’ Stories-The Coy family

Thorndon Bowls Club has reason to be grateful to many people within the village since its inception in the early 20th Century but the longest ‘supporters’ we have had are the Coy family and this month we have information from the member of the family who laid down the initial green and additional notes from present family members.

The Coy family originated in Lincolnshire and moved down to Suffolk in the late 1800’s. They farmed at Thwaite St. George on the 1901 Census return but by 1911 Thomas Coy, born Gosberton, Lincolnshire was in Thorndon with wife Alice and sons William J and Thomas H. Both sons had been born here so we know they were resident before 1906. The William J was the man who was known as ‘Jack’ Coy-many Johns were known as Jack for some unexplained reason! John Coy said that from his father’s notes they ‘moved from Hill Farm to Poplar Farm in 1903 and dad was born in 1906 (he died in 1993’).

John sent this piece which he has from Jack in the family papers (which I have transcribed part of here and copied below) and he also mentioned that his sisters were still paying tennis on the bowls green in 1960/61.

9.12.1991 Thorndon

I used to hear them talking about Pinchbeck and Gosborton and Bourne Fen a few miles from Spalding.

Grandfather moved to the Hill Farm Thwaite in Suffolk … he bought Poplar Farm Thorndon in 1903.

He left jottings on the club for John, who is our current President, and he has kindly lent them to me to copy. Here is a transcript which I have illustrated with italics where possible. I have copied what was written and spellings may vary!

‘Bear in mind this was 58 years ago and recollection gets a bit dim. Of all the people mentioned only Jonny Everson and I survive. (John Coy confirmed that the notes were written in 1990)

The original Thorndon Bowls Club played on a piece of ground behind the house where Denman now lives (The cottage is now called Laurel Cottage which is opposite Fen Lodge.).It was a bit fenced off in Tydeman’s meadow. The members were nearly all Thorndon farmers, Jimmy Tydeman, Dick Cook, Frank Hammond, Freddy Rush of Occold, Derek Lockwood from Church Farm, Old Frank from Shorts Farm, Gus Hammond (Brames Hall), Dick Cracknell Rishangles Lodge, Hodgekinson (White House) also the village policeman W Ribbons, Ted Brock (Carpenter) and secretary, Horry Everson, Jimmy Everson, Ted Bailey (shop), Claude Alderton (shoemaker). The clubs they played against in those days were limited to neighbouring villages. Bedingfield, Mellis, Mendlesham, Debenham, Wortham. Play ceased when the war broke out. (That makes it 1939).

The total number of members could not have been more than about 20. They always kept to the same ‘blocks’ of 3 players. The same leaders and backs always played together. Like Horry Everson always led for Frank Hammond. Ted Brock led for W. Ribbons. Fred Rush led for Dick Cook and so on. I first played in 1930 or thereabouts and went with Ted Bailey. (The first mention I can find in local newspapers is June 1933 when Jack played against Bedingfield. He may have played before that date of course but no report was submitted to the newspapers) (The newspaper reports also confirm this although there are sometimes differences in the blocks of players).

I cleared the piece of ground to make a tennis court about 1950. Some of the original club members started playing again on the lawn at Standwell Lodge. I decided to convert the proposed tennis court into a bowling green and this was opened as a celebration of the Coronation in 1952. (Whether Jack meant 1953 for the coronation or 1952 for the accession I am unsure-although previously I have included a report for the official first bowl in 1953 from the Diss Express so I suspect he was right with coronation and meant 1953)(John says that the Green was in use in 1952-so accession but the club re-formed in 1953 the Coronation). The opening (1953) was performed by Mr. Balch of Hestley Hall who agreed to be President of the club and he presented the ‘Rose Bowl’ which is still competed for. Horry Everson (the oldest member then) bowled the first wood. I was not at the opening ceremony as I’d agreed to help run a clay pigeon shoot at Redgrave. (A report in the Diss Express headlined Clay Pigeon Shoot at Redgrave begins- Clay Pigeon Shoot, trailer backing, carrying a comb of wheat and tossing a sheaf competitions were held on the Glebe Meadow on Saturday. A profit of about £50 went to the Coronation Fund. The clay pigeon shoot was won by Warrant Officer Gulyas of U.S.A.A.F.) John remembers Clay shoots organised by Jack at The Eye Flower Show and Hardwick near Bury St. Edmunds. He also recalled that if Guylas turned up early all the other ‘guns’ went away as he was certain to win! The club had various secretaries in the following years; Thomas from Kerrison School, Lloyd the policeman, Ted Brock etc.

I cannot remember when it was that levelling was undertaken or pond filling and extending was carried out but when it was done the green became full size with 6 rinks both ways.

As can be seen from the appended list we got about all over the county and many of the present members will be able to remember the matches listed. Most of them were played between 1954 and 1966. While I was in the game we only played ‘friendlies’ but now they have joined various leagues and players and teams have to be registered.

Nowadays players are switched about and mixed up. Leaders and skips are changed about. (The reports in the Diss Express do bear this out and the rinks were nearly always the same three players although every so often there is a change which could have had many reasons). Ladies started to join and play about 1956 and over the past few years have made quite a name for themselves in regional competitions.

All the bowling greens I have played on since 1930. Those marked X are clubs the Thorndon Club played against.

Bedingfield X, Earl Soham X, Badingham X, Marlesford X, Otley X, Halesworth X, Earsham X, Scole X, Long Stratton X, Wortham Rectory X, Wortham (Green) X, Mellis X, Diss Causeway X, Earl Stonham X, Haughley X, Holbrook X, Ipswich Safe Harbour X, Ipswich Brook Street X, Burston X, Barningham X, Great Ashfield X, Bedingfield Rectory X, Stradbroke X, Laxfield X, Debenham (Old Gasworks) X, Hoxne (Swan) X, Hoxne (Grapes) X, Botesdale Bell X, Botesdale Street X, Pulham Market X, Mendlesham (Horse Fair Green) X, Mendlesham (New Green) X, Eye White Lion X, Eye Tennis Courts X, Gislingham X, Needham Market X, Occold X, Palgrave X.

Other greens and lawns not involving the club-some of these were invitation games. Felixstowe, Cromer, Framlingham Castle, Saxmundham, Standwell Lodge, Green Farm Kenton, Diss Bowls Club.

A fascinating insight into the club from Jack Coy. Thanks to John and family for their help with providing this view into the formation of the club on its current site from the inside as it were. We are hoping to have an ‘Open Day’ during the summer if the conditions allow so please watch out for further details on that…and I am casting my net around to see who I can persuade to add another personal contribution to our series.