By Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association President John Ashbridge
Walton Pier Bowl Walton-on Naze Essex
This small 9-lane centre, the second centre in the UK to be built on a seaside pier opened on 1st February 1964. It was equipped with lanes and A2 type pinsetters by the Brunswick Corporation.
The original 150ft pier was built at Walton-on-the-Naze in 1830, it was to be one of the earliest in the country and landed goods and passengers on steamers to Walton which was a very popular holiday destination.
Keith Hale became the manager of the centre after first working in the Stamford Hill and Corby Centres for AMF and later became a proshop operator and International bowling writer who would one day be inducted in the UK Tenpin Hall of Fame.
The centre is still open today
