An historic Wallingford club has set the date for a two-day festival to celebrate its diamond jubilee.  

Club Chairman Jeremy Denton says the ABM Skittles Club has been one of Wallingford’s “best-kept secrets” but they're hoping to change that - with everyone invited to celebrate their huge milestone. 

Mr Denton said it was not unusual to speak to locals who never knew the town had a skittle alley but said the club, based at the Wallingford Sports Park on Hithercroft Road, was a friendly and welcoming space that organises league and individual events all year round. 

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"Although skittles is extremely popular in the West Country, it’s not widely played elsewhere nowadays," he said.

"We’re proud to fly the flag for the game here in Oxfordshire.

"It’s accessible for people of all ages and our members' ages range from 14 years to 80.

"We’d like to invite everyone to come and celebrate our anniversary with us and raise a glass or two to this wonderful, traditional game.”

The ABM Skittles Club will mark the impressive milestone with the event on June 21 and 22 - and they are inviting everyone to share in their celebrations. 

The club was formed in 1964 as part of the ABM Sports and Social Club, located on the grounds of the Associated British Maltsters (later Paul's) maltings - which were demolished in 2001 to make way for the Sovereign Place development.

However, a deal with the developers saw a new "state-of-the-art" skittle alley and function hall built at Wallingford Sports Park on Hithercroft Road, where the club’s 130 members play throughout the year.

The celebratory event will kick off on Friday, June 21, with an exhibition game featuring some of the best ABM players from the past and present.

This will be followed by a charity singles tournament in aid of Wallingford Family Centre, with up to 60 local and national skittlers battling it out to be crowned anniversary champion.

On Saturday, 20 teams will compete for the inaugural Great Britain Team Skittles championship. 

After the winners are crowned, there will live music from local band Soul Seniors, while the club will display photos from their archives across the decades.

Any local residents with friends and family who used to play are particularly invited to come along and help the club put a name to some of the faces who have played across the last sixty years.

There will also be a real ale festival featuring a range of local beers and ciders, with hot food from the Sports Park kitchen and a barbecue, while other resident sports clubs hold demonstrations and "have-a-go" sessions, including petanque and walking hockey.