HBC 2020 Annual Reports

Annual Reports

for AGM
23rd November 2020

Contents 3
4
President’s Report 5
Chairman’s Report 6
Secretary’s Report 8
Treasurer’s Report 10
Balance Sheet 11
Men’s Captain Report X
Ladies Captain Report X
Wallfields Report X
Fixture Secretary’s Report 12
Club Coaches Report 13
Social Committee Report 14
Competitions Committee Report
East Herts Ladies League Report

2

President’s Report
My first year as your President has been a strange and trying time for us all.
I have felt so proud of all of you for managing to continue bowling under the
very stringent conditions set down by Bowls England.
To my knowledge, we are the only Bowls Club that have managed to finish
our internal competitions and have a successful Finals weekend. This has
been due because of the hard work of the committee, the members and
especially to Roger and Anne our Captains who have worked so hard this
season.
We all hope for a better year in 2021.
We are a club that care for each other and I am proud to be your President.
Julia Peacock
President

3

Chairman’s Report

As ever my thanks go to the Committee members, who have been meeting
regularly throughout the Covid 19 pandemic, getting to grips with online
Zoom meetings for the first time. Thanks especially to Karen for arranging all
of the meetings for us.

The season consisted mainly of the club competitions this year and special
thanks go to the Competitions Committee for their organisation in this most
trying of circumstances. It was good to see the trophies being split between
so many different members this year with the very short season being
capped off with a most enjoyable Finals weekend.

I must of course mention the green maintenance teams who have worked
throughout the season in preparing what has, in my opinion, been the best
green I have played on since joining the club back in 2014. Well done guys!
Hopefully we will see things returning to some semblance of normality in
2021 and I look forward to getting back to a varied fixture list which we have
taken so much for granted in the past.

Amazingly in what has been a difficult period we have managed to welcome
12 new members to our ranks which bodes very well for the coming season.

Finally may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a
happy and successful bowls New Year.

Mike Irving
Chairman

4

Secretary’s Report
What a strange but weirdly enjoyable Season we have had.
Despite COVID, Hertford Bowls Club, thanks mainly to Roger and Anne,
played competitive friendly games most weekends, completed the majority
of our Competitions culminating in our usual Finals Weekend celebrations
and also managed to attract 12 new members. A great feat in the
circumstances and enhancing a great friendly atmosphere that the Club has.
Unfortunately, some members were unable to participate as much as they
would have liked due to health issues, but we hope they will all return next
year fit and strong.
Amanda and I will continue to share the Secretary duties next season. She
will concentrate on the technical side, external competitions etc. and I will
attempt to do the rest.
Here's hoping 2021 will bring us back to some normality
Angie Barrett

5

Treasurers’ Report and Accounts for Y/E 30 September 2020

I will not dwell on the obvious difficulties of this year for the Club and all of
its members, suffice to say that we remain hopeful of a better 2021!

We again show a small surplus in the accounts and this would have been
better had the full refunds been received from The National Competition
entries and also part of the fee paid to BE and HB. EHBA also retained a small
part of their fee. In all this amounts to £260. However, it is understood that
the fee (£120) paid for the National Competitions will be carried forward to
2021.

The administration cost in producing the Blue Book reflected an increase in
expenditure which was expected following the many years we have
benefitted from the generous work done by June Westwood, at minimal cost
to the club.

Yet again the Social Committee did us proud providing substantial income of
£724; sincere thanks to them.

The task for the treasurer this year has been awkward and at times rather
tedious due to the increase in payments and refunds occurring by credit
transfer. This is an expected development, but does change the
responsibility and procedures in accounting.

Our overall position remains extremely satisfactory when compared with,
say, a decade ago. In 2010 we showed a cash balance of a little over £8,000.
Currently we show a figure approaching £10,000. The increase in
membership has been steady and the policy to review subscriptions at
regular intervals has been beneficial.
(cont’d)

6

(cont’n)
There now exists the possibility of banks moving to charge small businesses
for the service they provide; this will need to be watched with care, but may
prove inevitable.
Having just experienced such a torrid year I do not recommend any increase
in the subscriptions for the year ahead, but the membership will decide this
at the AGM. It remains possible, but by no means certain, that Wallfields
Directors will take advantage of the two grants they received and use a small
amount of this fund to reduce the fees the two clubs pay next June.
I offer the accounts for approval by the members at the AGM. I understand
that the Auditors, Gillani and Co., are willing to continue, subject to your
approval.
For my own part, I intimated last year that the time was approaching when a
successor should be considered. I am willing to continue for another year,
should the members vote accordingly, but give notice now that this will be
my last year as your Treasurer.
Ken J Hartfield

7

8

9

Mens Captain’s Report

It would be easy for me to simply say "I have nothing to report " and wait
patiently for next Season. In fact, the opposite and the contents of my report
make me excited and impatient for 2021.

The effect of COVID sadly resulted in no external competitive bowling or
friendly matches. Yes, we missed this but it didn't stop us from enjoying a
good deal of very useful, friendly and pretty competitive internal roll ups and
games. Our members turned out in force which allowed us a very good
insight into what we can look forward to next year and in the future.

Enthusiasm for the game obviously increased and many great afternoons and
evenings highlighted the successful way everyone navigated this awfully
difficult period.

Also incredible was the Clubs ability to have attracted 12 new members and
it was great to welcome them on to the Green and socially. A big well done
to those responsible and please keep up your tremendous work.

The Club has always benefited from a strong, hard working set of officers and
my sincere thanks go to them all for another year, successfully moving the
Club forward and into a stronger position despite all of the problems. Thank
you for your support.

I also take this opportunity to thank the Green Volunteers who have again
worked tirelessly to support the Green Keeper and help to produce a special
playing surface for us all.

My thanks also to Angie for her everlasting, massive support which I would
struggle without.

Instead of meandering through a very strange and difficult year, Hertford BC
has grown in many directions and I can't wait for us all to be back on the
Green and to be bowling again in whatever format is available to us.

Thank you.
Roger.

10

Ladies Captain’s Report

This year has been a very strange year for the sport of bowls and many
others.
With all competitions at County and East Herts level cancelled we were
initially left with just roll-ups. As the season progressed however more
people came out to bowl and we moved to Club roll-up pairs and triples.
At this point we instigated the internal competitions and the ladies response
was tremendous.
The lady bowlers achieved a high standard of bowling particularly given the
limited opportunities and it is a real shame that they weren’t able to prove
themselves on a higher stage.
I would particularly like to mention Pam Worsley who in winning the Ladies
Championship bowled better than ever.
I would also like to mention Angela Costin whose bowling improved in leaps
and bounds. Amanda Smith has become a formidable skip and Karen’s
drawing ability led her to win the Yardstick.
Well done to all the lady bowlers and let’s hope that we can continue our
excellent bowling for next season and that we are able to win at East Herts
and County level.
Thank you to Karen for fulfilling her role as Vice-Captain with such good
humour and calm support leading me to name her my Club Lady of the year.
Thank you to June W, Jean, Julia, Gloria and June A who although not able to
bowl were frequently there offering support.
It has once again been a privilege to be Lady Captain and I really look forward
to a successful season next year.
Thank you and well done to all of the wonderful ladies of Hertford Bowls
Club.
Stay safe this winter.
Kindest regards

Anne Hudson.

11

Social Committee Report
Members:- Karen Cartwright, Pam Worsley, Angie Barratt, Tina Rowe
Well, what a strange bowls season it has been, we have been very fortunate
to have played as much as we have but from a social committee point of
view, we have had to do very little. We did manage to have a BBQ on finals
weekend, so thank you to all those that helped with catering, equipment and
of course the bar.
Thank you to all those that supported our winter socials at the beginning of
the year, sadly we haven’t been able to hold our presentation evening or
organise any social events as yet, but as soon as we have the green light, we
will have one heck of a party to celebrate those milestone birthdays,
anniversaries and anything else we can think of.
Stay safe and we hope to see you all soon.
Karen on behalf of the committee

12

Competitions Committee Report

We were unsure if our competitions would be able to take place this year.
However, as confidence grew and the rules relaxed, we all wanted
competitive bowling.

We ran our competitions over a shorter span of time but with fewer
demands on our time from external competitions were able to fit them in
comfortably.

We would like to thank everyone who took part and for the efficiency of
organising matches.

Our season finished with a hugely successful finals weekend which was a real
pleasure to be part of.

Thank you to Roger and his teams for both preparation of the green (which
bowled superbly) and for the barbeque after which was lovely.

Our trophies were presented after each final by President Julia, thank you
Julia.

Thank you also for the photographs of each of the presentations taken by
Jean.

We had a wide range of members in finals and it is great to see new names
going onto our trophies.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners.

I would like to conclude by thanking Marian and Amanda for all their efforts
in making what could have been a very limited season into such a successful
venture for our club and its members.

Sincerely,

Anne, Marian and Amanda

13

East Herts Ladies League Report
Our East Herts Season commenced on Monday 2nd December with our AGM
at Hoddesdon Rosehill Bowls Club where Marion Smith from Hoddesdon and
Rye Park was elected our President for 2020 and Christina McKenzie form
Bishops Stortford elected Vice President.
That is as far as it went as COVID Hit.
It is hoped that all Officers elected for the 2020 Season will carry on in 2021
and fixtures will also be carried over.
I am happy to continue as the Ladies East Herts rep and hope we will be free
from the virus by then.
Angie Barrett.

14