Cinderford Bowling Club is the baby of the four Forest bowling clubs but over the last 10 years the bowling green has become a well known landmark at Steam Mills.

In November 1987, the late Tom Walding commenced work on a long standing ambition to build a bowling green in Cinderford. Tom called a meeting at the Belle Vue Club and at this meeting Cinderford Bowling Club was formed with a membership of 30.

During the winter of 1988, Dean Snooker and Bowls Centre was opened and in May 1988, the first general meeting of Cinderford BC was held. At this meeting further officers and members of the committee were elected.

Over the next four years the club increased its membership and, while also being members of Dean Indoor Bowling Club, the Cinderford club played indoor games as an individual club against various clubs in Gloucestershire and adjoining counties.

During 1988 and 1989 negotiations took place for the building of an outdoor green and sites such as St John's Cricket Ground and Cinderford Town football ground were explored. Finally, in 1989, Cinderford Town Council offered to lease a parcel of land at Steam Mills Recreation Ground.

From 1989 to 1991 Cinderford played many outdoor games during the summer seasons but all of them away because the club had no green. On July 16, 1989, Cinderford played its first outdoor game against Yate and District BC and the team comprised: V. Matthews, M. Clark, B. Clark, G. Head, V. Roberts, J. Hale, J. Wicks, F. Hale, H. Sleeman, H. Griffin, N. Walding, R. Popejoy (captain), F. Edwards, M. Brinton, M. Ball and K. Brinton.

During these early years, the club had no venue for holding meetings and meetings were held in members' houses with many meetings lasting until the late hours.

The club, having received various grants and loans from several sources, appointed Glou-cestershire Contracting to build the £26,000 green on the Steam Mills site. Work commenced clearing the site on August 30, 1990. By the spring of 1991, the green playing surface had been laid.

In the summer months of that year almost 600 paving slabs bought by the members were laid around the green by a dedicated party of slab-layers and 150 trees were planted around the green.

It was during the early months of 1992 the club decided to build a pavilion and in March 1992 work commenced clearing the site for the building. All of the construction works were carried out by club members led by present club chairman Dave Gardner and John Young. Many late hours were spent erecting the building under floodlights fed by a generator. Some of the drainage work was heavy going in trenches 10 to 15 feet deep.

On June 6, 1992 the green was officially opened by the Mayor of Cinderford, Mr Bill Reid. A marquee was erected in the adjoining field for the opening ceremony.

The following day the first match was played on the new green against Lydney BC.

While the pavilion was being built, a caravan parked in the grounds was used for changing quarters.

On December 15, 1992 the club president, Tom Walding, with the Mayor of Cinderford, laid a foundation stone in the club building along with a time capsule.

Though much work remained to be completed gifts of goods and money enabled the clubhouse to be used for most of the 1993 season. That year the club was accepted into the local CMA League and the following year became affiliated to the County Bowling Association. In 1996 the club entered the local Wyvern League.

Founder members of the club knew in 1992 that it would take 10 years for the club to become fully established if the club was to remain free of heavy financial debt.

Now, on the 10th anniversary of the green opening and thanks to members' extensive fund raising, hard, physical work and support, the club has become well established in the county with continually improving green facilities.

The membership can now take part in county and internal competitions, play competitive league bowls, play in friendly matches and indeed play the sport at any level they so desire. Over the least few years tour parties have visited several coastal towns for weekend bowls tours which have proved very successful and a tour is planned for 2003.

One group of bowlers the club is proud to be associated with and who use the club's facilities are the visually impaired bowlers from The Forge Centre, Cinderford. They started bowling at the club in 1994 and since that time have progressed into a successful winning side by entering competitions and winning national silverware.

The club celebrated its 10th anniversary last Sunday when the annual Tom Walding Trophy match took place against Lydney BC. The two clubs have a long association, with Lydney the first visiting club to the new green in 1992.

The club still has improvement projects in mind and these will be implemented when the time is appropriate and funds are available.

New members are always welcome and anyone who would like to take up the sport, whatever age, can come along to the green on Wednesdays at 6.30pm. Free coaching, if required, will be available.