Although widely played in France this game started in
several different parts of the world at more or less the same time.
It started because cannon were becoming a defence tool and associated
with these were stacks of cannon balls. Originally these balls were
only about the size of a baseball ball or an English cricket ball.
The balls were stacked near to the cannons on ramparts that were often
gravelled. It was a simple step for bored soldiers to start playing
about with these handy objects. Thus the game arose spontaneously in
places where the cannon proliferated.
During July 1969 I was in France. I was astonished to see a
group of people that blocked off a portion of public road using
several rather battered 2CV cars. Then they started to play boule on
the slightly molten tarmac surface of the road. They were a friendly
crowd, (much wine was consumed), and they showed me the rudiments of
the game and allowed me to 'have a go'. I have played the game ever
since that occasion in all sorts of places. and I have thoroughly
enjoyed every minute of it.
A Group of like minded individuals started to play on
various pub car parks locally...A league was formed...(Melton &
District) we had six teams originally, Gaddesby
(The Cheney Arms) was one of them. The league grew and
became 'The Leicestershire Pétanque Association' (LPA). Owing to
dwindling numbers in our particular team we moved to play at
Saddle Inn at Twyford. During my time at
the Saddle many players became disgruntled with the way the league was
administered. A number of teams formed a new League...'The 1990
Pétanque League' (named after the year of it's first competitive
season). When I heard that Gaddesby were re-forming a team I decided
to join it to lend my experience to the newly formed team...
Gaddesby
has always had a place in my affections as well.
