Bob Scott describes the history of the Chatwin Trophy which as a standalone competition between two neighbouring clubs is always a highlight of the playing season.
Dennis and Mary Chatwin were members of Buckland Mill Bowls Club, (which was what Gateway was called from 1929 until 2007). Buckland Mill had their green in River on the opposite side of the River Dour to River Bowls Club up until 2000 when they lost the green. This came about after the closure of the Wiggins Teape paper mill and they moved to Radnor Park in Folkestone to ground share with Folkestone Park bowls club. Dennis and Mary, along with some others, decided that they preferred to stay at a club located in Dover and opted to move to River Bowls Club rather than travel to play bowls in Folkestone.
However they remained firm friends and associate members of Buckland Mill. In 2007 we became resident at our new location, and the club changed its name to Gateway. This was with assistance from the now defunct Dover Harbour Board Sports and Social Club. The Chatwins remained members of River B.C. and still supported Gateway as associate members.
Sadly Dennis passed away in 2010 and Mary wanted to present a trophy in his memory that would be contested between the two bowls clubs that they played for. Both clubs felt honoured to compete for the trophy and it is always a keenly contested match every year with the fixture being played at alternate grounds.
The original name of the trophy was the Dennis Chatwin Trophy and when Mary, who always supplied all the raffle prizes, passed away in 2018 their daughter Helen Alston continued what her mother did. All of the match fees paid by both clubs and the money raised at the raffle are given to charity.
Being a friend of Helen I approached her and with her blessing and the agreement of River Bowls Club the name of the trophy became the Mary and Dennis Chatwin Trophy in remembrance of them both.
The original charity that the money was donated to was the Kent Air Ambulance. However after Mary’s passing Helen opted to make her chosen charity The Pilgrims Hospice after the fantastic care that they gave her in her last days.