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Thursday 2 May - History corner
With a 127 year history there are many stories to be told about this Club. Since our last move in 2001 everything looks so new, including our little summer house which sits between our two greens.
However, bowlers at our club in the Nunnery Road site would recognise it in the 1930's onwards.
But the bowlers who paid for it in 1910 at the Old Dover Road site would have made much more use of it then.
It is to be hoped that ladies watching our bowls matches today might be rather happier than those pictured above, but probably not wearing such exotic hats.
Tuesday 30 April - Forest of Blean Bowling League Trophy
In 2023, the Canterbury Men's team playing in the Forest of Blean Bowling League (FOB) finished the season unbeaten and top of the League.
On a wet Tuesday evening Alan Jordan, the Chairman of the FOB, kindly travelled from Herne Bay to present the FOB Trophy to Darren Ellis (2023 Captain) and Mike Cunningham (2024 Captain).
It would be remiss of the website to omit to mention that the only Canterbury triple to win all of their FOB matches in the 2023 season was Peter Foster, Dean Ellis and John Andrews.
Tuesday 30 April - the gardeners and the repairers
Once again we have to thank and praise those members who maintain the gardens and who apply their skills to fix anything which needs fixing. Every Monday morning they are faced with new challenges and invariably those challenges are met. It was a pleasant change this week to have some warmer and less wet weather and they were able to have their well-deserved cuppa outside.
They could certainly do with some more helpers, so think whether you could spare some time on a Monday.
The gardens don't look after themselves and the fact that they look as good as they do, is down to many enthusiasts who look after segments of the grounds; again more help is needed.
We would encourage the more professional photographers out there to submit their own views of our grounds as suggested in our post of 22 April.
Sunday 28 April - next date for your diary
Saturday 27 April - a successful Open Day
The weather gods were kind to us and arranged that all the heavy rain occurred before and after our six-hour Open Day session.
The coaches and senior players were kept incredibly busy with a continuous stream of potential new bowlers, as were Barbara White and Colin Strouts managing the registrations.
The day illustrated that you cannot start your love of bowls too early........
......and do not think, if you have a disability, that you cannot join in and enjoy this sport.
Monday 22 April - photography challenge
In order to show how progressive we are after 127 years of existence, we are considering changing the photo of our greens and clubhouse seen above.
Of course, we are not rushing into a hasty decision and we have extended the challenge to all our Club members to come up with their own photos by the end of May. These should illustrate the joys of nature to be found in our grounds; the fun that can be had on our bowls green or in our clubhouse; the big sky that we have, being in our elevated position etc. The choice is yours, something creative or artistic, perhaps a collage?
An early entry that has been put forward shows the sort of thing we had in mind.
Another early entry of various Club members enjoying themselves in a local pub was deemed to be fun, but not eligible! If they would like to reconvene at our bar and try again.......
Send your entries by the end of May to canterburybowlingclub@ymail.com . Visitors to our Club are welcome to submit a suggestion.
Monday 22 April - the outdoor season starts
On a chilly Saturday, over 60 men bowlers assembled to blow away the cobwebs of winter in the annual Captain's team v President's team match. The green was heavy, but the sun shone (occasionally) and it was good to feel a part of the outdoor bowls fraternity.
Sue Close (Club President) launches the first wood of the season
An early reference to the rule book was required when the following scenario was confronted on one of the rinks when they came to do the measuring (we were assured that this was not staged).
Similarly, on a not much warmer Sunday, a very creditable 40 ladies attended their Chairlady's team v Captain's team competition.
Many thanks are due to; Richard Close for his formal photographs; the Captains, the Chairlady Marion, the President Sue, for their organisation of the events; to Damian Hone and his greenkeeping team for the excellent greens (despite the weather) and to River Caterers for their delicious ploughman's.
Tuesday 16 April - changing of the short mat guard
The AGM of the short mat section of the Club last week saw significant changes in the Committee structure with a number of the leaders stepping down after many years of service. Michael Hutchison (Chair), Bob Keen (Fixture Secretary) and Jane Carey-Harris had between them over 20 years of stewardship.
During their tenure the short mat section has gone from strength to strength and they all deserve great credit for this success. Short mat is a well-loved feature of the winter months at the Club and more people than ever have taken it up.
The new Chair is Bryan Nicholson, who has John Smith (Treasurer), Carleton Horner (Secretary), Jenny Anderson (now Club Captain) and Cedric Harding carrying on, as well as adding to their previous roles. Bryan has been instrumental in getting the East Kent Short Mat League (and its website) off the ground.
One or two more short mat bowlers are needed to spread the load in the new committee.
