By Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association President John Ashbridge
Fairlanes Bowl Hessle Road Hull
This 24 lane Brunswick equipped centre, the first for Fairlanes in the north of England opened to the public on Saturday 11th May 1963 when free bowling with gifts was offered. There were a number of events to mark the opening of the centre, the first of which was when the Sheriff of Hull, Alderman William Fox cut a ribbon, on Tuesday 7th May. Three days later Yorkshire and England fast-bowler Freddie Trueman set the scene with, a not-too-well placed ball which managed to knock over five pins.
It was the second Hull centre that the cricketer had had the privilege of opening as, eighteen months earlier, he had opened the Trans-World bowl in the City. This was part of the final opening ceremony when representatives from most of Hull’s business community were invited. Douglas Fairbanks Jnr was present with Michael Allen, a Director of Angallen Bowling Company. Sadly, any success for the centre was very short lived and, it is believed, that the centre was closed by the end of 1964.
