Our history

An inspirational tale of amazing forethought, and extraordinary generosity

The story begins in 1936, when Harry Lloyd of West End Stores and Joe Chamberlain, gardener at Orchard Cottage, revived the annual Flower Show and Sports. With no permanent home, the event moved from field to field, but the pair were already thinking ahead. They placed every bit of profit from the Show into a fund dedicated to one long-term goal: a community sports field of Fownhope’s own. It was the sort of long-range thinking you don’t hear much about these days.

In 1959 the Parish Meeting agreed it was time to turn that ambition into reality. The Parish Council began searching for land — looking at Whiterdine, Bowens and Church Croft amongst others — and made clear that, while they preferred to buy by agreement, they were prepared to seek compulsory purchase powers if needed. It was a patient, determined effort that unfolded over many years.

Progress finally came when the Williams brothers retired from farming. Malthouse Field, already used for football since 1972, was sold to the Parish Council in 1992.

The next chapter arrived when the Paton family stepped forward with extraordinary generosity. In memory of their son Graham, they funded the building of the Pavilion on the newly secured Rec — a place for teams to gather, coffee to be brewed, and community events to thrive. The Patons also created a fund to help keep the Pavilion looking cared-for for years to come, which is exactly the sort of kindness that underpins community life.

The FRFA was formed to look after the Rec and the Pavilion on behalf of the Parish Council. It’s now an independent charity — still with three trustees appointed by the Council, but free to roll up its sleeves and get on with things. It’s become a rather neat model: the Parish Council nurtures something into existence, then hands it over so it can flourish.

And here we are, nearly a century after those first careful savings, with a much-loved and well cared-for asset for the entire community.