Christmas Newsletter
Biddenden Bowls Club
Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2019 and especially for a fun and successful bowls season!!
Although we have not been bowling for nearly 3 months, lots seems to have been happening and lots is planned for the coming months.
Dates for your diary
15th December 2018 - Christmas drinks noon to 1pm at the squash club
23rd March 2019 - FISH & CHIP SUPPER with horse racing during the evening - more details to follow in early January. It will be a fun evening so please line up your friends and family to come along.
New Committee
At the AGM the new committee was elected combining a mixture of experience and new faces. Jeannette has returned as "Chair" and stressed that she and the committee will work with 'transparency' and asks that if anyone has any issues or concerns or ideas that they go and talk to her. Please look on the gallery page under committee 2019 to see the "committee".
AVIVA Community Fund and involving Children and Young People
Big thank you to everyone who voted. We ended up with 1082 votes which was enough for us to be allocated a grant of £1000 to spend on bowls and coaching equipment for younger bowlers and those with restricted mobility. Next season we are hoping to run an after school club for village children working alongside the squash club. We would also like to offer some other junior events. Plans are in hand and if you would like to be involved please let Kim or Kev know. Our safeguarding policies have been updated and I am sure that having some younger people participating will be a big positive for our club.
NEW TOILET BLOCK PROJECT
Those of you at the AGM will have seen the plans for the new toilet block which includes a disabled toilet. The funding package is now in place with generous grants received/agreed: £1000 from Neil Bell, ABC councillor, £1000 from Mike Hill, KCC councillor, £4000 Biddenden Parish Council, £4000 VHSC restricted reserve fund and £10000 from Ashford Borough Council Community Fund. The planning application has been submitted which should allow site clearance to begin in January/February. It is planned that the block will be constructed and finished in March to be ready for the new season.
FUND RAISING AND SPONSORSHIP
We have received a cheque for £1500 from the Tractorfest - thank you to everyone who worked so hard over the weekend under Jeannette's leadership in the "Village Tea Tent". We have 'volunteered' to do the same again in 2019!!
'Kent Design Studio' have prepared the plans for our new toilet block to submit to Ashford Borough Council without charge. This generous support is much appreciated and we hope to display a banner for them at the green next season.
CLUB SHIRTS
A top up order for shirts is being made shortly to be available for the start of the 2019 season. 7 members have pre-ordered shirts and a small seletion of different sizes for men and laidies will be obtained. If you would like to pre-order a shirt and have not already told me please let me know what size you would like asap. If you are not sure about size I have got some available to try on.
Green Keeping and Maintenance
Tuesday mornings have been busy and following spiking, mowing, treatments and brushing the green is looking amazingly good. The new mower, at a cost of £5500, has been ordered replacing our 20 year old DENIS mower. To help offset this cost the mowing crew (currently Jim, Kev, Brian and Paul with Norman soon to be added) will be taking over all the mowing in 2019 from the contractor employed over the past few seasons, saving some £1500 + per season. Fund raising is vital to keep our finances heathly so again please support the event on 23rd March and other fundraising activites. The Tuesday morning team works hard but also have fun and a selection of pictures along with more detail of the work being done is on the "Green and Maintenance" page.
Weald League
After our success in winning division 3 in 2018, our request to enter a second team has been agreed. This is in part due to Martin taking on the role of Weald Bowls League Secretary with Denise and Kim volunteering to help him collate results and compile the league tables. This is a great chance for more members to have the opportunity to play in league games and develop their skills and experience.
Contact Information
Kim Buggins
- 07795802630
Find Biddenden Bowls Club
The Green, Gordon Jones Playing Fields, Tenterden Road, Biddenden, Ashford, Kent, TN27 8BB
Additional Information
Turn off the A262 (Tenterden Road) into Old Mill Court and then immediately bear left into first car park. Continue past playing field and to the right of the squash club. The bowls club is on the left at the far end of the car park.