At the turn of the century Southend was developing rapidly, moving out from the central areas around Cliff Town and the sea front. Already businessmen were commuting daily from Southend to London; with the population steadily increasing, new good quality housing was required for the emerging middle class. The new elite of the town were the builders and developers and the local shopkeepers and businessmen who supplied them.

Amongst them was George Larman a property developer who had moved from his home in Hampshire to Southend. He acquired land around the area now known as Wimborne Road and started to develop an estate. This proved a huge success as it was within easy walking distance of the town centre with its shops, the sea front and the railway stations.

George built himself a large double fronted house "Oakhurst" at 71 Wimborne Road and moved into it in 1902. A keen cricketer he had practice nets in the large garden and frequently invited local sportsmen to join him. At this time the game of bowls was gaining prominence in the London suburbs and generally in southern England. George had tried out bowls in his own garden having converted his lawns into a couple of bowls rinks and obviously got bitten by the bowls bug.

By 1906 Southend already had a bowling green which was attached to the Carlton Temperance Hotel situated on the South side of Warrior Square, at which the Carlton Club Played. The only other club locally had changed its name to the Essex County Bowling Club and was preparing to move into its new premises in Imperial Avenue Westcliff.

With all this going on locally George Larman had a discussion with his Estate Manager James Sears about starting their own bowls club for local businessmen. Fortunately George when building his own house had left a large plot of land opposite vacant, not wishing to be overlooked. In order to continue his hobby of bowling and to preserve his privacy and utilise this spare land, the creation of a private bowling club with selective membership for gentlemen was seen as the ideal solution. As well as achieving the privacy he desired the result was the establishment of a prestigious hub for the new estate and the creation of Bournemouth Park Bowling Club in 1907. Under the Chairmanship of George Larman and with the driving force of James Sears a green was laid and a temporary building constructed as a clubhouse, leaving George to invite some thirty-five friends to become its first members. The green was built full length from North to South but with a width of only only four full rinks from East to West.

Their first season began with the Founder as President,  J Sears Club Captain and Green Ranger and R  Booth Secretary. The club became affiliated to Essex BA. in 1910. George remained President until his death in 1936. He was not just a figurehead but took an active part in all aspects of the club's activities. He was a very accomplished bowler, winning many club competitions including the Singles Championship in 1914. His son, Mark (an excellent bowler) succeeded him as President.

The Larman family remained owners of the club and lived at 79 Wimborne Road until the 1980’s when it was sold to become a nursing home and later a day nursery. The club adopted the address "Larman Green, Wimborne Road" in their honour. In 2000, George's granddaughter, Ann Larman, graciously granted the Club its present lease of 999 years at a peppercorn rent.

Adapted from "The First Hundred Years", a history of the club produced by Joe Webster and Ron Collins.