Club News
Well done Keith
Volunteers at the ready - sign up now
The picture is of our member Keith Gissing volunteering in 2024 at the Aviva National Finals
For those wishing to volunteer the season has many opportunities and of course many rewards. The following events are at Leamington the Wimbledon of Bowls.
British Bowls Para Series requires volunteers between 27th and 29th June 2025
We are asking for volunteer support in the following roles:
• Tournament Office
• Wheelchair pushers
• Collecting bowls for players with limited mobility
• Scoreboard turners
• Spectator services including meet and greet, ticketing (free to enter but spectators must register for tickets), wayfinding, programme distribution and the giant hands will be making a return for the high-fiving!!
The Aviva National Bowls Finals are just around the corner, with nine weeks to go, and we are still on the lookout for volunteers to fill a range of roles at this year's event!
Darren Butler | 07767 423604 | volunteering@bowlsengland.com
Open Days 2025
Congratulatiosn to our membership secretary Sue who organised our three Open Days for 2025. Sue was assisted by many members but a special thnk you goes to Brendan and Janet for their efforts.
The three days attracted some 48 visitors despite the weather not being great. To date we have 17 new playing members and 6 additional non playing members of all standards. We were extremely pleased to have Rhys come and join us at just 15 and we wish him and everyone else a great future at the club.
Each new member will now be partnered with a mentor, is able to attend beginners coaching sessions and try out various types of bowls before they take the plunge purchasing their own. We look forward to seeing our new members taking part in our club nights, friendly matches and of course internal competitions if and when they feel ready.
The Open days also allow us to take our annual members photgraph which is attached and will hang above the bar.
Gold Medal Winner
Our Saturday Open Day saw gold medal winner Andrew Briden visit the club to assist with our prospective new bowlers.
Andrew won his gold medal at the European Championships 2024 representing England in the triples.
He was soon found on the green, coaching our new bowler Rhys and giving tips and insights into his career to both members and potential newcomers to the sport.
Andrew has now informed us he will be back in the future to run some more coaching sessions.
We wish him well for the season.
More than just a puddle
The driveway to the club has been transformed over the past two winters.
In 2024 the maintenance team took on the hedges and widened the path/driveway and even got to grips with having a tree at the entrance to the drive removed.
This meant the drive was now wide enough for an ambulance to get into the club and cars were not scratched by the foliage.
The last two years however have seen much heavier and shorter bursts of rain and the ruts in the driveway seemed to be permanent puddles. (see photos/2025/maintenance for the before and after pictures).
Then thanks to a grant from Herts County Council and local councillor Terry Douris the club was able to undertake important maintenance work. So whether your a hiker using the footpath or simply coming to the club you no longer need wellies or webbed feet.
What a team
The maintenance team have been hard at it all winter.
Not only have they continued with the normal maintenace, they also decided to tackle the out of control 20 foot high hedge. The hedge was causing all sorts of problems, not only was debris falling onto the green, the thick foliage stopped the natural flow of air. This meant that end of the green was always wetter, which inturn caused more moss to grow.
The guys tackled a bit at a time and were mindful of scaring the horses in the field whilst maintaining the privacy for the tenants who rent the land.
The result is outstanding providing a much improved vista for those visitng the club and watching the bowling aswell as those participating. It now means that the evening sun will stay with us much longer.
Edward the landlord was extremely pleased with the efforts and kindly gave the team an evening out on him as well as a donation to the club.
Well done one and all.
Pairs Winners
A thrilling evening of darts saw the winter timetable draw to a close.
The final game saw mother (Janice) and son verses reigning champ Paula Gillings and partner John Callaghan.
Paula retained her title for 2025 and I am sure will be first on the hockey when the closed season starts agin in October.
Well done yet again to Dougie for organising the darts, prizes weekly raffles and for John on the final evening sorting out the chippy!
The club looks forward to plenty more fun and laughs on a Friday when the nights draw in.
The Bob Simpson Classic!
Congratulations go to our first table Tennis winner at PEBC.
Carol pipped both John Callaghan and John Cahilane in the final.
The prize a bottle of Jamiesons was kindly donated by our Chair Bob Simpson and presented by Doug Howard who singlehandedly set up the new social event and ensured the purchase of a table.
Carol when interviewed confirmed the game had been run over several weeks and involved getting the table tennis balls into cups with different points values. All three finalists were on 300.
Table Tennis now continues on Thursday evenings.
100 Club Draw - Everyone's a winner
The last Friday of the month saw the 100 club draw take place with 73 numbers purchased to date.
Our winners on the night were:
1st £90 - No 43 Keith Newman
2nd £50 - No 29 Steve Weston
3rd £25 - No 89 Pat Hume
4th £10 - No 53 Janet Hart
The big winner is the clubhouse renovation fund which on behalf of all members will receive 50% of monies received.
We are now looking forward to the next monthly draw which currently has 80 numbers.
This month saw three members winning and a non member. So if you havent got a number yet, want another or have a family member or neighbour who wants to have a go please contact Terry via a member.
Bezerk - No just madness!!
Potten End continued with their regular social entertainment evening's.
Members and guests welcomed Bella Beserk a unique Drag Act with 12 costume changes from Britney Spears to Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner and beyond.
A fun sing along ensued with both stand up and visual humour. Along the way there were plenty of twists and turns as well as loads of laughter.
This was certainly NO Danny Larue.
The next act is now booked for a night of singing with tribute acts. We are again limited to 60 seats and like our April event I am sure this will sell out quickly.
Short back and sides
The maintenance team have started off 2025 with a bang!! or maybe more of a buzz.
Lead by Bill the team has got stuck into the hedge on the footpath clearing back and preventing debris landing on the green.
The team are now going to cut the hedge down to a height of 10 feet which will not only mean the green gets more sunlight later in the day but also that the air will circulate more.
A great job one and all!
Digging Deep
The Hospice of St Francis provides assistance and care to over 2000, patients and famalies per annum. To do this they require £6 million of which 80% is fundraising from the local community.
In 2023 PEBC managed to raise £1,130.00p for the hospice, this year we smashed that figure with a whopping £1,604.00p
Massive thanks to everyone at the club inparticular those who have supported us throughout the year and others like Ashridge and Berkhamsted Golf Clubs who donated wonderful auction prizes.
In November 2024, the club started its own Centenary Legacy Fund raising monies to rebuild /refurbish the clubhouse. If you can assist in any way with this new fund please contact secretary@pottenendbowlsclub.org