Officers

Tony Keeling

(Gilt Edge Bowls Club)

Men’s President 2022

On behalf of Worcestershire Bowling Association, I would like to welcome you all to the 2022 season.  I am honoured and proud to continue in the role of Worcestershire Bowling Association Men’s President and would like firstly to take the opportunity to sincerely thank my club Gilt Edge for their continued support.

Last year continued to be a difficult time for us all but there were signs that both life and bowling was beginning to return to some sort of normality. Sadly, we did lose one of our older established clubs Worcester Brotherhood which had been founded in 1932. I do hope that the bowlers from Brotherhood continue to bowl with other clubs and are not lost to the game. In addition, two clubs Black Country and Crystal combined to form a new club Wollescote Hall BC and I wish them the very best for their future. I was pleased to see several Clubs within Worcestershire take part in the Bowls England initiative The Big Bowls Weekend and many clubs did pick up new members due to this initiative. Hopefully more clubs will take part in the Big Bowls Weekend 2022 and will also increase membership.

For the 2022 season the Management Committee has a familiar feel to it regarding the Men’s members with  Ivan Poole of Chester Road BC remaining in the post of Men’s Senior Vice President, Mark Atkins of Worcester BC continuing as Men’s County Competition Secretary and Alan Lerry, St. Dunstan BC continuing in the role of Men’s County Match Secretary. Joining the team is Derek Bond from Redditch BC who has taken over from Ivan Poole in the role of Men’s County Competitive Team Manager. Derek brings both experience and enthusiasm to the role and I wish both him and all of the team every success in their roles and I look forward to working with them. I should also mention that I will continue in the role of County Treasurer.

I would like to sincerely thank on behalf of Worcestershire Bowling Association Men’s Section Ivan Poole for all his work as Men’s County Competitive Team Manager 2021. Ivan and the competitive teams had great success in 2021 and I sincerely hope that success is built on further in 2022.

Congratulations to Viv Hall who is the Worcestershire Bowling Association Ladies President 2022 and I trust she will have an excellent, successful  and enjoyable year.

I wish all competitors participating in competitions during the 2022 season the very best of luck and I look forward to supporting you at the National Finals.

I am keenly anticipating the start of the 2022 bowling season and trust that we can all reacquaint ourselves with old friends, make new ones and enjoying our bowling.

I am both pleased and honoured to be elected as your Ladies President for 2022, our 75^th   Anniversary Year.  I will endeavour to maintain the high standards set by our past Presidents.  I am proud to be representing my club, Broadway Bowling club as President of Worcestershire Bowling Association.  I will be the seventh Worcestershire President from Broadway over the years, so I thank them for nominating me and for their continued support of me and the County.

I am looking forward to working with my opposite number Tony and IPP Judy, and all the committee to make this a successful and enjoyable year for all.

As we come out of the Covid nightmare I feel it is incumbent on us all to encourage more people, young and old, able bodied and those with disabilities to come and have a go at our great game. My challenge to bowlers is to say I wonder how many people I can recruit rather than just say I wonder how many will return to our club.

Whatever level of the game you aspire to, I wish you all a great and enjoyable season and success in your competitions.  Please feel proud ladies when representing your club and Worcestershire Bowling Association in our favourite sport.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the summer, good luck and play well.

Viv Hall

Ladies President 2022

Worcestershire Bowling Association.