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It took more than 100 years for a bowling club to admit women as members.

And now, nearly two years after that momentous victory, the ladies of Lindley Bowling Club are set to bowl in local leagues for the first time.

The club, off Huddersfield’s most expensive street, Daisy Lea Lane, was set up by a group of wealthy businessmen in 1895 as a gentleman’s club.

Until April 2012 women were only allowed to play if accompanied by their husbands and they couldn’t compete because they were not members.

But all that is in the past and the club will field a team in the Yorkshire Parks League on Tuesdays and a second team in the Huddersfield league on Wednesdays.

Members of the Tuesday Yorkshire Parks League team and the Wednesday Huddersfield League team at Lindley BC
Members of the Tuesday Yorkshire Parks League team and the Wednesday Huddersfield League team at Lindley BC

Velma Henderson, 64, who will be captain of the Tuesday team, and whose husband Alister players for the men’s team, said she was looking forward to leading out her team for the first time at home when they take on Siddal next month.

“There have been a couple of women in the mixed teams in the past but this is a definite first for us, “ said Velma. “We are all very excited about it and looking forward to it.

“I have been playing for about three years now, my husband played in the men’s teams and I thought I would get in on the action.

“We have had a few friendlies and are very pleased that we have been accepted into the leagues. The organisers could see that we were determined to get in and that is what we have done. How we will fare is another matter.”

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