Spring 2023 Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

Well, it’s just about Spring, and at least it’s not snowing (at the moment).

I hope you’ve all had a good Winter, and are ready to be off again on the green: as you’ll know from Alison’s communication, the Green Opening weekend will be Saturday and Sunday April 22 and 23, and I hope as many of you as possible will be able to come along on one of those two days. On the Saturday we shall have a brief opening ceremony as usual and then some bowls, probably in a sort of Spoon Drive format, and then tea, etc. Cakes, etc, will not be refused. On the Sunday, we shall have a match between the President’s team and the Chairman’s, so if you want to play in that please let me know and Bruce and I will sort out teams from those who put their names down. And don’t forget that the first match is on Saturday April 29th, at home to Cross-in-Hand, followed by a Rother League match on the Sunday against Ninfield, both at home.

We had a successful and most enjoyable Quiz Night at the Railway recently, as many of you will know, so thanks to Pam for doing the organisation for that, and of course to Colin and Judy Miller for running it. We’re aware that the food was less elaborate, and less in quantity, than last year, but we needed to keep down catering costs in order to keep the ticket price the same as last year. And, of course, this is a fund-raising event, as well as a fun evening: we raised £226 for the Club, which was less than last year, but still represents a successful event. If anyone had ideas for other fund-raising events that they would enjoy, please let us know.

The green is coming along well, under Selwyn and Ian’s ministrations, so we should give them a hearty cheer as usual for all their efforts. We shall be starting to mow regularly soon, when Selwyn gives the word, and we have a new recruit to the Mowing Team in the shape of Philip Edmondson, so thanks to him for stepping up. We could still do with another mower or two, so if anyone else feels able to help we should be very grateful. You need to be reasonably able-bodied, as the mower is quite heavy, but it doesn’t take very long once you get used to it – not much more than an hour, if that – and as long as we have a full complement of mowers, it’s only once a fortnight during the season. We shall also need to have a ‘sort-out’ day at the club to get everything ready for the season – the white chairs need a good clean, for example, and the benches need a coat of wood-stain – probably at the beginning of April, and we’ll suggest dates for that before long.

I have an important message from Alison, who is our Club Safeguarding Officer, and says, ‘Following Bowls England guidance, we have adopted the BDA (Bowls Development Alliance) safeguarding policies for adults and children, and also their anti-bullying policy. These are now pinned up on the notice-board, and are on our website, battlebowlsclub.org.uk, under Club Documents.’ So please take a few moments to look at these.

We are sorry to be losing two Committee members: Nigel has resigned as Fixture Secretary because of pressure of other commitments, and Jenny as Clubhouse Officer, as she is moving to Cranleigh to be closer to her family. Jenny will of course, unfortunately, be leaving the Club, but Nigel will still be playing for us and offering his coaching expertise. We thank them both for their efforts over the past year or so. This means that we have vacancies on the Committee – not necessarily for those particular jobs – so if anyone is prepared to join us we shall be very pleased. Otherwise I shall be going around pestering people, once the season starts. I shall take over fixtures again for this season, having done it before, but we have no one as yet to take responsibility for the Clubhouse, so if anyone feels able to do that, please let me or another Committee member know.

Barbara and David Brooks have kindly offered to take over responsibility for gardening at the Club, and indeed have already done some. No doubt they will be needing assistance with this, so contributions from any gardeners amongst you will be most welcome.

We shall be holding Taster Days, on Saturday April 29 and Saturday May 13 (the gap is because of Coronation Weekend), from 10.00 a.m. to midday, so if anyone can come along to help out and encourage potential new members, please do. As far as recruitment goes, Pam Poling and I attended the Parish Assembly day at Battle, with a stall for the Bowls Club, and raised a bit of interest; it’s important that we raise the profile of the club around the place, if nothing else, so that people know we’re here. We are also going to produce some flyers to be distributed to houses around Battle, and it would be good if members could take some of these and post them through letter-boxes around where you live. This won’t be too strenuous: we shan’t ask you to do more than a small area, so it can be done whilst walking the dog, etc. Not having a dog is not a legitimate excuse.

We have recruited a good new sponsor for this season, as well as the previous ones, but as usual, if you have a business or know someone who does, do come forward. Basic sponsorship, which gives advertising on our website and Sponsors’ Board at the club, can be had for £50; major sponsors pay £100 upwards, and can put up a sign alongside the green, like the one already there which advertises Fosters’ Motors.

Coronation Weekend: we would normally have played Bexhill on the Sunday, but we’ve agreed with them that some people will be doing other things, so we have cancelled that for this year. We were going to set aside the Saturday for a club Competition Day which may face the same problem. I shall ask around before then to see if there is any interest, so let me know if you would want to play on that day. Battle Council are organising various events that weekend, about which I’ve been to a couple of meetings. They haven’t fully made up their minds yet, but on the Monday, May 8, they are thinking of having some sort of event at the Recreation Ground, in which sports clubs and other organisations will take part. We can’t play bowls there, of course, and it’s no use putting on something at the green, as it’s too far away. What I’ve thought we might do is organise a petanque competition, which people from sports clubs and other clubs can take part in. I’ve said that I will run it, if there is enough interest, so if you want to be involved with that, either playing in it (no experience necessary – I’ve only played it three or four times, but that won’t stop me organising it), or helping to run it,  please let me know. And if you have a set of boules, can we please borrow them? Again, this is a way of publicising ourselves, and it may even encourage people to take up (proper, English) bowls!

Finally, if you haven’t renewed your membership yet and sent the forms back to Alison, please do so as soon as possible, and no later than April 1.

Best wishes to all, and see you on the green before long,

 

Roy.