Annan Pétanque Club was the idea of our founding President George Shepherd.

When on holiday in Morocco, in 2017, George discovered the sport of pétanque.  George had never enjoyed reactive ball sports, tennis, table tennis, or any other such games.  However, when on holiday he was introduced to French Boules (Pétanque) by fellow holidaymakers.  He so enjoyed the sport that on return home in Scotland he searched the internet to discover that there was a Scottish Pétanque Association (SPA). 

Exploring their web site, he discovered that there were eleven clubs in Scotland affiliated to the SPA.  The closest to home was Moffat.  George emailed the secretary to the Moffat club, who advised of their AGM 6th April 2018 which he attended.

Becoming a regular player at Station Park Moffat, representing the club on visits to other clubs, and participating in competitions hosted by other clubs, he obtained his SPA Licence.  The return trip Annan / Moffat soon became a regular occurrence often three or four times a week.  It soon became apparent that this travel was excessive, and George determined to set up a new club in Annan.  

By this time his partner and two other people were travelling, from Annan.  George then determined that a club in Annan could be viable if a site could be identified for a terrain (pitch).

George attended an AGM of Annan Bowling Club to ask if it would be possible to utilise part of their disused green to construct a terrain.  

Support for the venture was not forthcoming so it was necessary to look elsewhere.  During a conversation with Richard Brodie, a local councillor, Richard suggested that George speak with Jaime Nicholson, local ward officer.  George met with Jaime, and through discussions, it soon became apparent that a site could be found for the terrain.  

The former Rose Garden adjacent to the tennis courts at Seaforth Avenue was identified as a potential site.

With this as a possible site George prepared and submitted a planning application.  Planning consent was granted on 29th December 2021.  

To progress the funding applications, it was necessary to prepare a constitution for the club.  George prepared a constitution based on the Scottish Pétanque Association model.  The constitution was signed by George and Elaine Muir.  Sarah Crombie agreed to being a signatory to the Club bank account.  George then proceeded to apply for funding from many sources and by April 2022 sufficient funds had been sourced to proceed to construction.

Several local contractors were approached for costs / estimates / quotations all of which were considerably more than the funds available.  

Undaunted by this, George approached Neil Carlyle, trading as D W Drennan, to determine if their combined skills and resources could proceed to construction.  Neil and George agreed plant and labour rates, and single item costs.  

George sourced materials, principally aggregates and fencing.  On 1st August 2022 the excavations began.  The vehicular access to the site was via the access to Hecklegirth Primary School so it was important to ensure that all earthworks’ operations were completed before the school returned from the summer break.

This was achieved.