Tillingham Bowls Club was formed on the 19th January 1965. The money was raised to do this in the village by holding Fetes, Raffles, Rummage sales and running Bingo nights in the Village Hall.
The green cost nearly £2000 for four rinks and the club started to play on the green in July 1968. There were no facilities for changing and a small shed with Elsan toilets was all the club had.
In 1970 the club became affiliated to the Essex County Bowling Association and joined the Chelmsford and District Bowling Association. As the Club grew in membership so extra facilities were needed. A pavilion was built in 1975 which then led to the club having more members.
The Ladies joined the Essex County Women’s Bowling Association, and in 1976 the club formed the Dengie Hundred Triples League with Burnham Hillside Bowls Club.
In 1981 the membership grew, and there was a need for more space. The playing area was extended to six rinks. With extra rinks to look after it was decided to have an automatic pop-up watering system which the members installed.
In 1985 the members extended the Pavilion, putting in a kitchen, a Bar, and changing rooms. In 1987 the gale came after which the club had to replace the equipment shed and the fence around the green. The work was all done by the members. The roadway was put in on the west side of the green, so that the area at the rear of the club could be used as a car park.
With all of these facilities, the members worked hard on the green to make it one of the best surfaces to play on and this shows as the Club now has several men and one lady that play for Essex County. The club plays friendly matches against other clubs from all parts of Essex, members play in leagues and individual competitions in the Chelmsford & District area, and in the Dengie Hundred.
In 2015 the Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee; various celebrations took place including entertaining the Chelsea Pensioners for an afternoon on the green and also playing against the Royal Household at Windsor Castle.
Tillingham Bowls Club is one of the very few from such a small village which has such wonderful facilities and is owned and looked after by its members and long may it continue.
Alfie Burton, 2021