Future is bright as Frankwell lights up

Floodlights have been installed by Shrewsbury Town Council at Frankwell Bowling Club’s Silks Meadow green following a campaign by members stretching back many years.

And for the Haycocks family in particular, the floodlights have a special significance. Brothers Mike and Steve Haycocks are among the longest serving members of the Frankwell club and it was their late father Bob who initiated the campaign for lights more than a decade ago.

Bob, who served as club president, chairman, secretary, treasurer and team captain, died in 2007.

Current secretary, Richard Ewels, said: “Bob more or less ran Frankwell Bowling Club single-handed. He loved the sport and was a club doyen for many years. Now his sons Mike and Steve, as well as his 18-year-old grandson Jack, have in turn become stalwarts.

“Everyone at the club is therefore delighted that Bob’s wife Barbara has accepted an invite to officially ‘switch on’ the lights at a ceremony later this summer.

“We believe Frankwell was the only club in the Tanners Claret Shropshire and Shrewsbury Leagues without lights which caused all sorts of problems at the beginning and end of each season when home fixtures had to be rearranged due to insufficient daylight.

“Having said that, our opponents were always very co-operative in assisting us and I’d like to thank other clubs for their understanding and help over the years.”

Support

The campaign for floodlights was renewed five years ago, when a fresh application was submitted to the town council. It received support, plans were drawn up and planning permission granted by Shropshire Council in September 2013. A £1,000 grant was received from the Severn Loop Local Joint Committee which the club matched from its own funds. But in February 2014, faced with escalating costs and budget restraints, the Town Council postponed the scheme.

Now, three years on, the work was completed in time for the season’s start and Frankwell has first-class floodlights on its riverside green plus lights inside its pavilion for the first time in the club’s 94-year history.

Club chairman Brian Bennett said: “Frankwell Bowling Club was one of the founder members of the Shrewsbury Bowling League which was launched in the 1920s. Since then, crown green bowling has been enjoyed at Silks Meadow by many people over the years.

“The absence of floodlights caused many problems for the club and visiting teams over the years, but thankfully, this issue has now been resolved by Shrewsbury Town Council.

“On behalf of all club members, I would like to thank the Town Council officers and councillors, Mike Cox and his recreation team and all those involved in providing the lights which will ensure crown green bowling continues to be enjoyed at Silks Meadow for many years to come.”