Newsletter to all members September 2023
The GPC met on Monday 11th September. We wanted to bring you up to date with some news and some dates for your diary.
News of members
It was with much sadness that we learned of the death last month of Sheila Chimes. Sheila, a life member, was instrumental in establishing both the Centre and the Club for which we all owe her a great debt of gratitude.
It has been good to see Chris Fripp at the Club in recent weeks but he has resigned as Club Captain due to ongoing ill health. Chris was also our Club’s designated Coach. We are seeking, therefore, a new Club Captain and Club Coach. These are both essential roles in the effective running of the Club. If any members are interested in taking on either of these roles, Chris would be very happy to talk with you about them and how to go about gaining coaching badges. Chris will become a coopted member of the GPC, for which we are all very grateful, with the title of Associations’ Delegate.
Jim Freeman is currently having respite care at the Carpathia Grange Care Home in Hythe. We will let you know of his progress when we have more information from his family.
Congratulations are due to Clive Hassall, Graham Laird and Dave Morgan for reaching the NFBA triples final. I am told it was a well fought match, but New Milton came out winners. Thank you to those members who supported our team on the day. Well done also to Graham Laird and Marjorie Kirton who reached the quarter finals of the NF Mixed Pairs.
Two Friendlies are arranged for which we still need more bowlers, please. These are Saturday 23rd September away v Parkside and Sunday 8th October away v Braeside. The annual match away v Palmerston (Fareham) will be on Sunday 19th November for which details will be published in October. Our thanks are due to Graham Laird for organising them this year and I am pleased to tell you that Kevin Bushell has kindly agreed to organise Friendlies in 2024.
We had hoped to arrange a further session of Bowls Coaching later this month but not enough coaches were available. I have asked if we can arrange a session for mid-late April and await a response.
Short Mat league starts on Tuesday 3rd October. We could do with three or four more players in order to make a good competition. The draw for squads will be at 10.00am on Monday 25th September.
The Bowling Green
The green is looking good, thanks to Kevin’s excellent stewardship and weekly cleaning. Our thanks are due to Malcolm Cross for creating two features with old bowls in front of the pavilion. He will add some lacquer in due course to make the features stand out more
Social Events
A curling evening, to which we have invited Brockenhurst BC, will be on Friday 20th October.
A fish and chips lunch followed by bingo is planned for Friday 24th November and the last Friday of January, February and March.
On Monday afternoons starting on 2nd October from 1.30 to 3.30, please come and join us for cribbage or other games of your choice.
A Chinese meal with quiz will be arranged on a date to be confirmed in November (possibly Saturday 18th).
Keith Sinclair has kindly arranged for a Club pre-Christmas lunch at Romsey Golf Club on Tuesday 7th December, details of which will soon be on the noticeboard.
The annual Christmas Fayre will be on Saturday 2nd December. Please put this in your diaries. Details and requests for help and donations will be on the noticeboard later this autumn.
A new Cleaning Rota will start on 22nd October. When it is issued, please check your dates and if you cannot make any date, please do your best to swap with another member. If you know in advance when you will be unavailable, such as holiday, please let Mandy know.
Our annual Presentation Evening and Dinner is on Friday 27th October for which information will be published shortly. Please sign up in good time as numbers are necessarily limited.
The Club AGM is on Friday 3rd November at 2.00pm. Information about this will be on the noticeboard by the end of this month. Nominations are needed for ALL posts, please.
We will be shortly welcoming our winter members. I know that some of you are concerned that roll ups may become crowded. Please be assured that if a problem arises, we will address it. One likely way is by organising at least one additional roll up session stating at 12.30pm/1.00pm.
Instead of Aussie Pairs this winter, Colin Honey will be organising a mixed triples league, details of which are already on the noticeboard. Squads will be of four players, meaning you have one week in four free, so we can accommodate up to 48 members. There will also be a Club winter Pairs Competition and an inter club Winter Carpet League.
A donation of £240 has been made to the Friends of Lymington Hospital from the proceeds of the Cliff Hewlett Memorial Trophy Day. Thank you for your support for this and for other charity fund raising events during the year.
The Club celebrates its 25th Anniversary in April 2024. We will be arranging a party and will publish details as soon as we can after our next GPC meeting which will be on Tuesday 24th October.
And finally . . I have been asked by some members about access to the green, such as by using a keypad on the gate, when the office is closed and no other bowls matches or activities are taking place. The GPC has considered this request and concluded that any freer access than is currently available would compromise security and be unnecessary. It has always been the case that any member can book a rink ‘outside hours’ and the office will ensure that a key holder is available at the required time.
With thanks, as always, for your continued support. See you at Finals Weekend! Steven
Steven Brice President, on behalf of the GPC