Are you a fan of genealogy, do you watch “Who do you think you are”, dreaming you are related to someone famous?  Well one of our members, Paul, is related to bowling royalty.  He is the grandson of Enoch Peers.  It’s to our shame that we may not know the name, Enoch was a champion bowler in the early 1900’s, winning the first ever All-England Crown Green Bowls Championship in 1910.

Enoch Peers from Wednesfield and had already set a high standard before winning the Championship by winning the Individual Merit Cup in 1907 and again in 1909 and '10. Then came the the British Crown Green Bowling Association Individual Merit in 1910, and the F.W. Collins Competition in 1930.

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His club Wednesfield Bowling Club won the first major team competition, the Challenge Cup, in 1903, and again in 1904, '05 and '06.

But it was the winning of that first All England Crown Green Bowls Championship at the Great Western Hotel that made his name.  Enoch playing for Staffordshire beat Mr J. Valentine of Lancashire 21 - 11, at Fleetwood Subscription Bowling Club.

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His triumph shocked the northerners, who had hitherto considered themselves to be unrivalled on the bowls green. I’m sure they would have been more irritated when Enoch’s band of followers from the Black Country celebrated in style carrying their hero shoulder high through the streets of the Fleetwood.

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Enoch was from a working class family.  Starting work at the age of nine in 1886, he worked as a key-maker in his father’s workshop at the back of their home.  Later he had a spell as publican at the “Old Crown” that stood behind Wednesfield Church, but wound up his working life as a press operator at Guy Motors, in Wolverhampton.  Here he was a stalwart member of the works bowls team for much of his 23 years spell there, and what a scoop it must have been for Guys to parade a former champion of England in their side, but just think of the anguish if you on the opposing side drew him to play!!

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Enoch never bowled for money, but some of his awards came in very useful, his daughter Mary tells of the times she and her mom visited the big Wolverhampton stores spending the vouchers Enoch had won.

Mary also recounted the advice that Enoch gave, which is so pertinent for today.  Enoch treated his bowling hand with utmost respect, to the point that he would unfailingly carry his bowls in his other hand.  His bowling hand was used for delivering the wood, and that was all!

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You may wonder whether Enoch’s genes have been passed down to his grandson, or whether his sporting prowess was a one off.  Well Enoch’s brother, Edward, also had the gene he enjoyed a very successful football career, playing for Notts County and representing his country.  So if you are drawn against Leamore in any of the leagues we play in take a close look at your opponent to see if they match the features of Enoch, and if they do - be afraid, be very afraid!