Minutes of Henley in Arden Bowls Club Annual General Meeting

Monday March 10th 2025

Welcome

The Chairman offered greetings and thanks to everyone attending the AGM.


Apologies

Margaret Twigg, Kevin Roberts, Julia Cross, Dave and Dee Lucas, Gavin Pringle, Simon Jary, Peter Day, John Suthons, Steve Bell, Enid & Rob Elsmore.


Previous Minutes

Minutes of 2024 meeting were duly agreed.


Club Chairman’s Report

This report will be similar to last year’s only more so.

Last season was a very successful one despite having the clubhouse roof repaired at significant cost. 

Our league teams performed exceptionally well with Gavin Pringle proving to be outstanding in the personal divisional averages, the achievements being apparent in the Team captains’ reports.  Generally, our players’ performances have improved as a result of an increased air of competitiveness and competence within the club.

Members’ astonishing support of the club competitions and the revenue generated by them continues to reassure us that the costs, similar to those we have endured recently, can be largely met through your efforts.

That said there remains the problem of the mowers.  We know these are old and becoming increasing difficult and costly to service.  A replacement mower could cost up to £5K and therefore we will be looking to reinforce our reserves in the coming couple of years in order to recover the reserves we used to repair the roof.

Jon Butler has stepped back further from more of his club duties but has agreed to remain as League Secretary.

The social aspect of the club continues to be well supported although the weather cancelled our picnic evening and made the Funday less sunny than usual.  Despite the doomed efforts of the Chairman to organise a three-course meal, eventually resorting to a Fish & Chip supper, the annual dinner was, again, almost oversubscribed. 

Rob and Diane Jacobs have continued to organised social nights and have now introduced Honest Bob’s exciting race night in the Henley Mile pub at the station which has been well supported.

Our usual club competitions will run next season being Monday Afternoon Doubles, Wednesday Morning Singles and our season-long Knock-Out Singles (if members continue to support it).

Last season we trialled a Thursday afternoon competition of Singles Play over 21 ends.  Opponents were drawn at random similarly to Wednesday mornings, the goal being for each player to score as many points as possible in 21 ends.  Without precluding any members, this will aid members who are unable to play regularly on Wednesday mornings and wish to play a form of singles competitively.


Club Treasurer’s Report

Steve Dorow had relinquished his role as Treasurer and so the Chairman presented a brief summary of the club’s finances.  


2024 2023

Income 7326 6608

 Expenditure 10561   6596

 Surplus -3235       12


Current A/C 4801 7448

Deposit A/C 5450 5384

Total Cash 10251 12832


Anyone seeking more detailed information then please contact the chairman.


The members were advised that in order to recover reserves the FPG proposed to raise the annual fees to £70 with all other green charges for organised competitions and league matches remaining the same.  Members were asked to agree these terms.  In response the members present discussed the merits of this proposal and whether it was better to increase reserves more quickly.  As a result, an agreement was reached (following a show of hands) to raise the annual fees to £75 and all competition green fees to £3.


Team Captains’ Reports

Captain’s Report A Team - Gavin Pringle (Delivered by Rob Jacobs)

The A team had an exceptional year winning the South West Birmingham Division 4 title by two points, beating our local rivals Wootton Hall who finished runners up.  In the Heart of England League, we also gained promotion by finishing runner up to Olton and similarly gained promotion to division 3, again Wootton Hall finished a place behind us in third.

It was an outstanding effort from all our regular A team players that enabled us to have such a successful season, with 5 of our bowlers in each league finishing in the top 25 in the division averages.  Considering there are approximately 125 bowlers in both leagues this is a terrific achievement.  The core team throughout the season, Charlie, Dee, Dave, Fred, Rob and Steve finished with winning records as we won the title, and were in credit in the averages.  This is a testament to the strength we had to call on and our ability to rotate the squad.

This coming season will bring new and bigger challenges, division 3 will be a considerable step-up in standard, but there is a sense amongst the team we will be able to keep our place and survive in the higher division.  There is an excitement that after being in division 4 for a number of years, and meeting old friends and familiar faces for a good while, we will now be playing many different clubs we have never played before; Triplex, Weoley Hill, The College, M&B Portland Rd, and the Green Man to name but a few.

A final note of caution, Wootton Hall, as previously mentioned, finished runner up in the South West Birmingham league after an epic battle home and away.  We fully expected to resume our local rivalry this season, however they have declined to enter a B team in this league due to lack of playing numbers.  Wootton were able, due their playing resources, to call on 14 players last year to represent the B team, but due to several factors, illness, retirement, players moving away from the area, they feel they cannot fulfill their fixtures this year. Henley used 7 players for 97% of our fixtures in the South West Birmingham league, so we do need to be conscious of continually looking to bring in new players where it is appropriate.

To continue to strengthen in depth we will be making two changes this season, firstly Pete Day will be added to the A team which will enable us to rotate the squad more easily, and give Pete more experience of bowling at a higher level.  Well done, Pete.  Secondly, we will, as I’m sure you all know by now, be fielding a Sunday side with the aim of introducing more people to competitive bowling and hopefully transitioning to our other sides.  A big welcome to those who are trying it for the first time, and those who have bowled before but are returning after a break.

So, the countdown has started, the season is now weeks rather than months away, and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and rewarding bowling season! 


Captain’s Report B Team - Sandie Butler

Last season’s league bowling was a remarkably successful and enjoyable one for the B team.  Amazingly, considering the poor summer, only one game was rescheduled and only once did we need to hide in the shed to stay dry.  Well done to everyone who took part in our matches.

I hope that when the new future list is published the B team will be in divisions 5 & 6 for the coming season.  With three leagues South and West Birmingham, Heart of England and the Sunday Northfield league there should be plenty of games for everyone.

It’s nine seasons since I became B team Captain and it has been an enjoyable and fulfilling thing to do.  This season I want to ask for some extra help.  It would be very useful to have team members who know how running a team works if needed:

Don’t worry you don’t have to do any team selection.  I can answer most questions and I’m sure Enid, who has far more experience will have lots of information and tips, if you ask.

Please think about it, I can assure you it’s not rocket science.  Your help is really important to another successful season for our teams.


Greenkeeper’s Report

Green keeping will be much the same as previous years, I will cut the green on Mondays, Anton on Thursdays and possibly Gavin on a Saturday.

Help will be needed on most Mondays to edge the green and mow around the perimeter.

Occasionally help with hedge cutting is needed and much appreciated.

When I am unavailable then I will be asking others to mow.

On Monday the 17th I would like lots of help as we want to sort out the clubhouse and do some painting as well as work on the green.

Weather and green permitting we will try to open the green on the 19th March


Election and Appointment of Club Officers

The following officers were elected/appointed unopposed. 


Any Other Business

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Meeting Closed at 7.45pm.