IN 1987 a group of Great Ayton residents decided that a bowls club was needed, as it was one of the few villages in the area of similar size without one. A tour of the village at that time failed to find a suitable site, but an opportunity arose in 1994 when a piece of land became available when the apartments at Leven Court were built. The estimated cost of the land and development was £200,000 but Hambleton Council and Sport England between them found the finance and a committee was formed in 1995 to take matters forward. Prominent Great Ayton resident June Imeson was very supportive of the effort and she it was who cut the first turf to start the work in 1995 and, when the club opened for the first time in July 1996, she was elected as the first president.