May Newsletter

Lockdown Update - The New Green

So far, eleven members have tried out our new surface so far. The socially distanced guidelines are challenging but not impossible, for many. ‘It is quick’ said Brian ‘But we didn’t put any in the ditch'.

Meanwhile, the new maintenance team have been overcoming gales and invading ducks.

Finances

The good news is that the club is going to survive. We have been successful in our bids for Covid-19 grants and the total cost of our major project was slightly less than feared. We now know how much will be required to keep the club running under lockdown, for the next ten months if necessary. We also know how much we have to find to meet all commitments.

Our artificial surface was a major project for such a small club and the finances were always going to be difficult. The good news is that we have now paid the contractor. We will have a retention to pay in March 2021 but this is covered by the matching retention from Sport England. This means that the only ongoing finance we have to find now will be the annual payment to Bowls England to repay their loan and saving for a replacement surface in the future.

Thank You

In addition to the major funders of Sport England and Community First, in the guise of Crapper and Sons, Malmesbury Bowls and Social Club are indebted to the following for their contributions to the artificial green.

• Malmesbury Trust
• Malmesbury Area Board
• Malmesbury Bowlers
• Buildbase
• Jack Lane Charitable Trust
• Buildit
• Warden and Freemen of Malmesbury
• McGill Chartered Accountants
• Churchill Retirement Living
• Waitrose
• Malmesbury Carnival

Club Shirts

If you joined last year, after the shirts had been delivered, or joined this year or you are an existing member and would like a second shirt, now is the time. The more people that place an order, with John Smith ,the lower the unit cost. Ruby is still going to buy the first shirt for every member! Thank you Ruby The deadline for this will be Friday June 26th. Contact John on johndavidsmith50@gmail.com

Green Bookings

If the weather holds and the number of people using the new green increases then we will put an on-line booking system in place. However at the moment there has never been more than four people at the club at any one time so any members who want to play have more than enough room.

Trees

Our next project will be reduce the trees that line the far side of river.