Lindley Bowling Club Newsletter. May 2018.No.1
Lindley
Bowling Club. Newsletter. June
2018.No.2
Lindley Bowling Club Newsletter.May 2018.No.1
Welcome to the Lindley Bowling Club (LBC) newsletter. It is proposed that the committee will be issuing quarterly newsletters to keep members up to date with what is happening.
Thanks goes to Grahame Tansey and the committee of 2017 for all their hard work. A lot goes on behind the scenes to keep a club going.
At the AGM in April Lorna Briggs was elected as the new president, Gary Cramb as secretary and Ken Ellis as treasurer. Alan Dutton and Tony Taylor joined as new committee members.
The new committee has set itself a task to :-
a.Get the club on a better financial footing
b.Put relevant regulations in place i.e. data protection, child protection
c.Maintain and develop LBC as a place to come and enjoy.
Finance
For some time there have been concerns about clubs finances. There is money in the savings account in case of any major repair etc. but these at present are being reduced. Over the last few years there has been a deficit in our current account.
Ken Ellis and the committee are looking closely at this and certain measures have already been taken:
a.Review of bar takings
b.Change in the bar staff. Bev now has a full time job and Courtney has taken over. There will only be 1 bar staff on at any one time. Your patience at busy times will be appreciated.
c.Meeting with the brewery to get improved rates and request for free barrels for big events
d.Review of the drinks on sale e.g. only cans in the winter and one draught beer.
e.New electricity and gas supplier has been agreed and should save £767 a year.
f.New grounds staff from last year has reduced costs without compromising the green
This is already beginning to show financial improvement.
We are also looking to attract large prestigious bowling events which bring in additional income.
We would like to hear from you if you have ideas to reduce costs or increase income, particularly those you can help deliver.
Finance
The club’s excess of expenditure over income has been discussed at recent AGMs and this resulted in annual subscriptions increasing in 2017. The club’s reserves have built up over time and these are there to pay for both planned and unplanned major expenditure e.g. improved car park and kitchen facilities. The need for such funds remains but this year’s subscriptions have been maintained at £45 per member.
Ken Ellis and the committee are looking closely at balancing the budget this year and certain decisions have already been taken:
a.Review of bar takings
b.Change in the bar staff. Bev now has full time employment elsewhere and Courtney has taken over. Only one bar staff will work at any one time. Your patience at busy times will be appreciated.
c.Meeting with the brewery to get improved rates and to request free barrels for big events
d.Members are helping with the review of the drinks on sale e.g. only cans in the winter and one draught beer.
e.New electricity and gas supplier has been agreed showing significant savings.
f.A change in grounds staff from last year has reduced costs without compromising the green.
These measures are already beginning to show financial improvement.
We are also looking to attract large prestigious bowling events which bring in additional income.
We would like to hear from you if you have ideas to reduce costs or increase income, particularly those you can help deliver.
Sponsorship
We would like to thanks an anonymous donator for £180, also G Turton and J Allen for their donations to the £2000 event. These gifts are very much appreciated.
C Burke, the local councilor, has provided £150 through Kirklees for the junior bowls.
Committee members are looking to find sponsorship for either specific events or generally for the year. If you have links to any prospective sponsor then please share this with the club secretary.
We are also looking at the possibility of sponsorship boards round the club.
Clubhouse and Green Rental
We are still looking at increasing the groups who use LBC, which can contribute £30 + for each session.
Thanks to K Ellis for negotiating a contract with a local company to use 10 spaces in our car park, Mon-Fri. You have probably seen the signs. This brings in a regular large income of £350/m.
Maintenance
A big thank you has to go out to those many members who contribute to keeping the club looking so good, the gardeners, tree clippers, small repair jobs and finding people to do bigger repairs.
Please can we all ensure that the clubhouse/kitchen and outside are left clean and tidy as it does help us all.
Social Events
Social bowling is continuing to grow thanks to Wes White. The sessions are on a Wednesday 6 to 7.30 and 7.30 to 9.00. All Welcome.
Thanks also go to G Stott, V Henderson and team for their social events. These contribute not only to member’s enjoyment but also to clubs finances.
A full calendar can be found on the notice board and on our website.
Junior Bowls
This year Moorlands, Lindley and Reinwood junior schools each bring a group of 11 year olds for 3 Friday afternoons 1.30 to 3.30.
Then on Friday 6th July 1.30 to 3.30 pm there is a School Challenge Cup. Moorlands won last year. This should be a good afternoon and welcome any members who wish to come and support these new bowlers
The LBC Junior Bowls club is Friday from 4 to 5pm. All help very welcome.
We are hoping that this season we will be able to play at least 1 junior match against another club.
We hope that you have found this 1st newsletter interesting and informative. We would appreciate any feed back.
Lindley Bowling Club.Newsletter.June 2018.No.2
From the Committee - Strategy and Planning
We are looking to write a strategic plan for the club which will require approval by the members at next years AGM. Planning will assist the financial budget process and explain the need for holding a defined level of reserves. Existing and new members, sponsors and other stakeholders will know what LBC stands for. A small sub-committee will be looking into this initially and it will soon be asking members for their opinions about the club.
EGM 11th July Following a meeting held with representatives of one of the LBC teams and the committee concerning the £1 levy, there is to be a single item agenda EGM held on Wednesday 11 th July. The membership have already been informed. If you wish to vote then please attend as there will be no proxy vote.
Sponsors
Travel Counsellors will once again be sponsoring the £2000 Competition.Members have received a separate communication regarding the services provided.
You can meet Deborah and David Little during Wednesday social bowling.
Gardinia are sponsoring the club for the first time and are kindly carrying out repairs to our premises free of charge. Score cards bearing their logo will soon be available. Members will receive a separate communication regarding their services.
H.B. Clarks, our drinks supplier, have donated two barrels of beer for events.
Other Sponsors - many thanks to our other external sponsors for raffle prizes and tombola etc.: Soverign Sports, Marsh. Cobwood Engravers, Milnsbridge. Dress$less, Pure, Occasions Gift Shop, Lindley Fine Wines and Wagstaffs Shoes.
Club Members – last, but not least, many thanks go to several members who are generously sponsoring a number of bowling activities this year.
Bowling News
4 Man Team, Huddersfield Bowling Association 17th June
Congratulations to the Lindley Team Dave Allen, Carl Allen, Nathan Hartley and George Turton who were the winners. In the final at Broad Oak they beat the Crosland Moor team, who had 2 county bowlers in their squad. Very well done.
The Scramble
The weather could not make its mind up, sunny one minute, then very threatening, but it did not actually rain. A great day again with plenty of barbeque food, strawberries & cream and Pimms.
Thanks to both the organisers and all the social committee helpers.
The winners were1. Rob Porter with 62
2= with 61 Morag Myers and Steve Haigh
4. Alister Henderson with 59
5. Geoff Stott with 52
6. Nick Beaumont with 51
7.Karen Stott
8= Susan Scott and Mike Dawe
Junior Bowls
This year LBC has been working with 3 local junior schools Lindley, Moorlands and Reinwood. Each school has the possibility of 3 sessions for their top juniors (11 year olds), at the end of which a competition is held between the 3 schools Friday 13 th July 1.30 to 3.30pm
We understand that there have been some concerns about the junior bowls sessions at LBC.
1.What is the aim of the junior sessions
The aim has been to work more closely with our local community to raise the LBC profile. To encourage young people to take up bowls and to show it could be a family activity. The schools have publicised the LBC junior club on a Friday at 4.30. We have had 14 juniors but these sessions have been stopped due to lack of helpers.
2. Time taken up by juniors on the green so members cannot practice.
During any of the schools sessions there is always room on the green for members to practice. The activities only take up half the green. If there are any problems with this please contact Lorna Briggs.
3. Damage done to the green
One week at the beginning of the season when it had been very wet there was some minor damage / dents to the green, but this was not wholly due to the schools.
In future weather / green conditions will be taken more into consideration.
Working with schools is being reviewed as it is not meeting all the targets that were set. It would be a shame to stop completely as the children enjoy bowling.
When we have decided what format, if any, it will take next year members will be informed.
Up and Coming Events
LBC £2000 Competition
An exciting competition with lots of excellent bowling, the knock-out rounds are on Friday 29 June, 6, 13 and 20 July
The FINAL is not to be missed on Friday 27 July.
Matches commence 6:30 pm with food and drinks available.
Summer Handicap Competition
On 7 July, 10:00 for a 10:30 start. Entrants please add names to notice board list.
Schools Challenge Cup
On Friday 13 July 1.30 to 3.30pm. Come down and watch the bowlers of tomorrow.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Silent Auction
The social committee recently ran a silent auction for an evening meal at the club. To quote the diners, hosted by Grahame and Anne Tansey, “We were chauffeured from our home by Geoff suitably dressed in bow tie and jacket. We then had pink gin sitting outside in the warm evening sunshine before our dinner was served in the conservatory, which was decorated with lights and candles and the table set with china and cut glass. The quality of the food and service were most professional, whilst the wine flowed freely thanks to wine waiter Alister. The ladies who prepared and cooked the food (Velma, Karen and Morag) served it to us in outfits that reminded me of the waitresses in Bettys of Harrogate. Put simply, MARVELLOUS!”
Bar Drink Selection Following members feedback regarding the drinks stocked behind the bar, 70cc bottles of wine as well as diet mixers/soft drinks are now stocked.
Lindley Carnival
The club will once again have a stall at the Carnival on the 30th June, where we will be publicising the merits of the club, with the aim of attracting new members. We may see you there.
Little Knows Facts About LBC (thanks to Bill Blackburn)
In 1964 the club had 250 members - prospective members went on a waiting list.
In 1977 the AGM discussed allowing ladies to become members.
In 1986 it was decided against the installation of floodlights as deemed unsightly.
In 1998 it was decided to sell the plot of land adjacent to the club.
In 2005 we entered a team in the Brighouse Veterans League.
We hope that you have found this 2nd newsletter interesting and informative.
Please send any individual or team news to lbc1894@outlook.com
We appreciate any feedback.
Don’t forget to visit our website where you can find more information and pictures.