More than 500 people have backed a fight to save a 125-year-old bowls club after members were told they must leave the place they've called home for more than 100 years.
Eviction notice
Members of the Mitres Bowls Club say they have been left devastated after being told they must leave the clubhouse and bowling green they have called home for more than 100 years. More than 500 people have already signed a petition calling for the club to be saved after members were told they had until February 1 to leave.
The club, based next to St Thomas Church in Norwich, is being forced to move after its Church of England landlord announced plans to turn the bowls green into an outdoor café area and flexible community space.
Heartbreak and anger
Vice-president Neville Warnes, 63, said the decision had left members heartbroken. He said: “I’m gutted by everything. I can’t believe we are in this situation.”
Neville said the club was about far more than just a game of bowls. He added: “People’s ashes are scattered here, it’s about the memories as well the current members who play. They can’t even be bothered to see what we have got here.”
He believes moving elsewhere would never replace what generations of members had built. He said: “There isn’t anywhere we could go like this, it wouldn’t be a club if we hired another ground. We do not consider this decision has been made for the benefit of the community, it has been made solely for money, profit and greed.”
Club history and plans
The club has around 70 members and was founded in 1896 before moving to its current home in 1901. East Church, which bought the site in 2016 through its commercial subsidiary STN Trading Ltd, said it wanted to redevelop the bowls green into an outdoor area linked to the neighbouring Mitre café.
Julie Rust, 66, who became the club’s first female member 30 years ago, said the plans had angered members. She said: “It is so infuriating. There is already a cafe there. It has angered us so much. We pay the rent and look after the club completely.”
Disappointment and response
Treasurer Annette Warnes, 58, said she was disappointed by the way the eviction had been handled. She said: “In previous times the vicar has come over and made an effort and wanted to see us. This is not the way the church should act I thought they would’ve been more community friendly.”
David Hart, 60, who joined the club last year ahead of his retirement, said: “It’s very disappointing in terms of the opportunity being lost to the bowls community and the wider community.”
Members are now awaiting a response from the Bishop of Norwich as they continue their campaign to save the club. A spokeswoman for the church said: “STN Trading Ltd is the commercial trading subsidiary of the Norwich based church network East Church which operates the Mitre on Earlham Road in Norwich.
"This is a community space and coffee shop for use by the wider community, not just church congregants. Money generated then goes back to fund community and social action projects in the area. The aim is to open up the pavilion so it is made available to anyone across the city, all year round, both as a flexible co working space and as an outdoor cafe area.
"Due to those plans, notice has been served to the Mitre Bowls Club. Representatives have engaged in conversation and expressed their sadness which is fully acknowledged. They will be fully supported in their wish to have a happy and successful final season.”
