September 2026 Newsletter

Well Competition season is all over; that’s come round all too quickly and with the green closing on 28th September, we have the opportunity to start our new build for the changing rooms. Keep an eye out for it.

Our presentation lunch is, as usual, at the London Beach Hotel on Sunday 11th October, with numbers to Geoff by 25th September please.

The Ladies Fun Afternoon is organised and ready for 25th September with 8 clubs attending. After all the fabulous weather we’ve had this summer, let’s hope the sun shines for us on this day too. Thanks to Mandy, Karen and Jenny for all their work on this and indeed on all our extra-curricular social activities.

As the season draws to a close, we look to the Saturday socials to keep us all going with drinks, games and cakes.

Please note that our Christmas Party has had to change date and will now be held on Sunday 6th December. I’m sure there will be more details later, but for now save the date.

I have been asked to post the Committee Meeting minutes on the notice board in the club, which I will do from now. The Newsletters mostly cover what is in the minutes but this will still continue to be sent to you too.

Following the support of the Calverley game on the second May Bank Holiday, Geoff is looking in to creating a new competition, Super 6 Tournament, on that day in the future and has an interested sponsor. We look forward to hearing more.

We have enjoyed a full season, all weathers, and a green many other clubs have coveted, with thanks to Andy and his merry band of swishers, sweepers and rollers. Lots of work to do on the green during the closed season and a new green care volunteers’ form is on the notice board for you to sign up to.

August 2026 Newsletter

The hot weather continues but has meant that some fixtures have had to be cancelled. Despite this, our green seems to be the only “green” green. We have played on some very “brown” greens recently. All down to our Green Manager, Andy Burchett, who has triumphed over the sun, together his band of helpers Margaret, Lester, Jenny, Richard and Alban.

There is now a card reader at the clubhouse so drinks can be purchased by bank card. Cash can, of course still be used, and it must be noted that there is a minimum of £1 spend to use the reader.

It is quite easy to use. First press the button on the right-hand side of the unit, when you will be presented with the screen where you enter the amount you want to pay. Then press the black 'Charge' bar at the bottom of the screen. This will bring up the amount and a tap icon. Just hold your card or phone to the unit, get a beep, and job done.

The unit is for bar purchases only at the moment please (so the Treasurer can keep tabs on usage and easily identify what receipts are for), meaning you will still need real money for raffles, wrong bias fines and the like. If you encounter any problems (or accidentally add an extra 0 on the end of your bill) please let Richard Lloyd, Treasurer, know. Otherwise, happy spending!

Competitions are getting to their climax with finals being played on 5th and 6th September. Please note that Trophies are to be returned by finals weekend.

The Tunbridge Wells League has finished with both teams ending in third position in their respective divisions, so no promotions and no demotions. Well done everyone!

Following concerns regarding competitions being played in allotted roll up times, in future only TWO competitions will be permitted during roll up times. On another point, please note if a match is arranged without a marker, the challenger will forfeit the match.

The BBQ was a great success again with lots of food and merriment. However, the little fridge in the kitchen was turned off after the BBQ so all milk, butter etc had to be thrown away. There is a notice on the switch not to turn it off, please take care that this does not happen.

Ladies’ Fun Afternoon on Friday 14th August was cancelled due to the heat and has been rescheduled for Friday 25th September. A WhatsApp group is to be set up to help with contact and there is a meeting on Friday 11th September at 4pm, after roll up, for all involved.

A form for nominations for next year’s committee members will be on the board in the clubhouse from 31st August. Please feel free to nominate, propose or second in preparation for voting at the AGM on the 8th November.

We are starting to look forward to starting our new building work for the new changing rooms. This will free up space to allow us to create a larger social space and kitchen in the clubhouse. We will be seeking out anyone with building experience/skills soon.

Meanwhile, if you know of anyone who wants to try out at bowls, please encourage them to come now as the season ends so that they would be ready to join for the next season

July 2026 Newsletter

What amazing weather we are having, so hot we have even had to cancel some of our fixtures. I remember the green last year looking like a lake! Not this year. The green is still looking splendid, despite the lack of rain, even complimented on by James who is our guy who comes in to mow and look after the green. Well done to our Green Manager, Andy Burchett, who puts in a huge amount of time and effort, and his band of helpers Margaret, Lester, Jenny, Richard and Alban.

Competitions

The season continues with a packed schedule, Monday Night League, competitions in full swing, friendlies and roll ups. Congratulations to the Dingoes who won the Fantastic 7’s, such a popular competition now it is no longer the Fantastic Fives! We are doing well in the Tunbridge Wells League, where we now have 2 teams. Team A are second in Division 2 and Team B are third in Division 3 with games in hand. Brilliant.

BBQ

Saturday 8th August is our annual BBQ, another very popular event on the calendar. Don’t forget to book your place and come along and enjoy the fun. It is still only £15 per head excellent value for money, to include chicken, burgers, sausages and salads plus desserts. Arrive around 3pm for an approximate 4pm start.

Family and friends very welcome!

Drinks available from the bar until 9pm.

Don’t forget to let Celia or Geoff know if you want join in, 07708 442303 or email Geoff on grwickendenbowls@gmail.com.

Help setting up the marquees and tables at 10am would be much appreciated

Ladies’ Fun Afternoon

On Friday 14th August we are holding the Ladies’ Fun Afternoon which is proving as popular as ever. Still £10 per head to include tea and bowls. We are looking for volunteers to help with sandwiches, cakes and all the other things that make the day such a success. Please see Mandy Pavlou or Karen Melhuish and register your interest in helping.

June 2026 Newsletter

The season has made an excellent start and is well underway. We have a number of new members who have settled in well and are taking full advantage of all the opportunities to play. The weather has been a bit mixed but the green has received many compliments, thanks to the hard work of Andy Burchett and his supporters, Margaret, Lester, Jenny, Richard and Alban.

Competitions have all made a start and we stand at 2nd in the TW League at present but we do have some matches in hand.

The Calverley Centenary match and BBQ was a huge success. 70 people attended the day and we were blessed with glorious weather. The Lady Mayor, Bev Palmer, attended presenting the plaque to the Calverley Chairman. Calverley members were delighted with the day and very grateful for all the hard work put in by everyone.

The name badges for our club shirts have been ordered for those who wanted them so hopefully we will all know who we are this season.

We welcomed youngsters from Kent Skinners Academy on 3 separate occasions. Year 12 pupils have attended twice and a mix of Year 8 and 9 pupils came on another morning. All those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the experience and there was a real competitive spirit not just with the young people but with their accompanying teachers too.

We are beginning to talk about and plan the building of our new changing rooms which is an exciting new chapter in our club’s story. We were reminded that this July will be the 25th anniversary of the clubhouse fire and it is good to see how far we have come since then.

See you on the Green

Sue Jones

Hon Sec

May 2026 Newsletter

What a busy Open Day we had, with glorious weather which seems to have gone a bit downhill since then. There were many visitors trying their hand on the green and they all seemed to enjoy the bowls, the tea and the delicious cakes. The green was very inviting for newcomers, thanks to the hard work of Andy Burchett and his supporters, Margaret, Lester, Jenny, Richard and Alban. We welcomed 2 new members and some very keen Juniors.

TW League is underway with the first games being wins for us!

Roll ups are also in full swing and several friendlies have already been played, with 2 wins, 2 very near wins, 2 losses and a draw. Our new Captain, Lester, is doing a great job mixing up the teams and giving us all a fair opportunity to play.

This coming Bank Holiday Monday is the Calverley Centenary match and BBq. Calverley Club was established 100 years ago and many of their members joined Pembury when they closed. It should be a good day, with temperatures looking to get really hot. We have the Lady Mayor, Bev Palmer, attending and after the games, she will be presenting the plaque. A BBq will follow with, of course, a bar and photos. A good practise for our Centenary in 2029.

The Refresh and Learn session Tony Partridge ran in April to remind current members and introduce new members to the rules of the game, with a session on the green after. This was well attended. There will be follow up sessions like this again, particularly on etiquette on the green, so that we can all learn/refresh this.

Our sponsors, Align4Life, providers of mainly chiropractic services came to the clubhouse on 17th April, giving us a presentation on what their company can do for our wellbeing. It was an interesting hour with discount available for an introductory appointment.

We are looking into having name badges for our club shirts, not just to help us remember our own names, but to help opposing teams to know us as well.

Our new stickers for our bowls have arrived in vibrant yellow so that we can distinguish our woods from our opponents. At least that was the idea but we have already played one club with the same thoughts

See you on the Green

Sue Jones

Hon Sec

April 2026 Newsletter

Well, the new season has started and the green is open and looking fantastic.

A huge congratulations and thanks to our green manager Andy Burchett for doing such a great job upkeeping the green throughout the winter and tidying up the surrounding areas. Also many thanks to his band of swishers, sweepers etc namely, Margret, Lester, Jenny, Richard and Alban for their continued support.

Social Saturdays have been a great success this year and we hope to see these return when the season closes.

Roll ups are back on Wednesdays at 6-8pm and Friday at 2-4pm and our first friendly is on Saturday 25th April at home against Bayham and Lamberhurst. It is great to see so many members signing up for the friendlies, looking like a great season ahead with new and current members raring to go.

A reminder that this Saturday we are having a “Refresh & Learn” hour, from 1 o'clock, a brief presentation of some of the basics of our wonderful game of Bowls, which you may or may not know, followed by a Q&A session.

There may be many new and experienced members with questions about the game who have not had the opportunity to ask so this Saturday is your chance.

We will be having other similar shorter sessions throughout the season.

This Refresh & Learn hour will be followed by on rink instruction/coaching from 2 till 4

and will include how to set up the green/rinks and why and where to place and move the mat and why.

Other rinks will be open from 2.15 for a roll up.

Open Day is upon us, Sunday 19th April from 2-4.30pm, and advertising is at present around the village. The format will be the same as last year and we hope to see many happy friendly faces up there to help and welcome, and cakes too please.

New bowls stickers are being ordered and will be available shortly to ensure we can see our bowls next to the jack and ensure we only oust those opposing woods!

Don’t forget tomorrow, Friday 17th, sees one of our new sponsors, Align4Life, giving a talk in the clubhouse about their services. This will follow our roll-up and we hope you will support this and show our appreciation of their sponsorship.

Have a great season.

See you on the Green!

Sue Jones

Hon Secretary